896 Rural Sctiooi, T.f.aflet 



much as that inflicted by a bee stinj:;. However, it is not necessary to 

 handle these creatures in order to study them. In nature-study we are 

 more interested in what they do than in how they look. 

 Observations for the pupils. — 



1. How many different kinds of spider webs can you find? Study a 

 cobweb in the comer of the room. Is the web a sheet of silk, or is it a 

 mass of crisscrossed tangled threads? What is the purpose of this web? 

 Where does the spider hide? Describe how it acts if a fly falls into the 

 web. 



2. Examine one of the funnel webs out on the grass. What is its general 

 shape? Is it made of a sheet of silk? Is there a tube leading off at one 

 side? What is in this tube? Is there a back door to this tube ? Of what 

 use is this? 



3 . Study an orb web. With a pencil touch the lines of the framework. 

 Do they stick fast to the pencil point? Touch the spiral threads. Do 

 they stick fast? What is the use of this sticky, elastic thread? Is there 

 a zigzag ribbon of silk at the center of the web ? What is this for ? Where 

 does the owner of the web stay? How does it know that an insect is 

 caught in its web? If possible, describe how a spider spins the orb web. 



4. In the autumn look carefully in the low bushes or in the tops of 

 weeds or among the dead branches of young hemlocks for the filmy dome 

 web. Why is it called a filmy dome? How large is the dome? How is 

 it suspended? Where does the spider rest within it? 



5. How do little spiders go traveling? Describe the spider's balloon. 



6. Note the spider hidden in the goldenrod or trillium or milkweed. 

 Is it the color of the fiower ? How does this help it to get its prey ? Does 

 this spider spin a web? 



7. Lift up boards and stones. Do you see large, hairy spiders under 

 these? Do these spiders spin a web? How do they catch their prey? 



8. Note on the bark of trees or on fences or on the windowpane, gray 

 and black, rather chunky, spiders. Place the tip of a pencil in front of 

 one of these about an inch away and move it toward the spider. What 

 will the spider do? Why does it do this? How does it get its prey? 



9. Collect all of the spiders' egg sacs that you can find and study how 

 these are made. Where are they placed and how protected? 



Editor's Note. — We have included the study of the spider in the 

 regular insect work since it is so included in the State Syllabus, 

 doubtless for the purpose of calling attention to the common error of call- 

 ing the spider an insect. It will be well for teachers to emphasize this 

 fact and the points of difference between spiders and insects given on 

 page 98, 



