22 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWOKK. 



Again, I have often seen the mouth parts applied directly to water, 

 which appeared to be appropriated in the usual way of feeding by pressing 

 the liquid into the gullet. Spiders of all. tribes have been seen drinking in 

 this way, and this is the method continually practiced by my tarantulas 

 in confinement as shown in tlie sketch at Fig. 7. I frequently receive 

 living spiders sent long distances in boxes or bottles, and my first act is 

 to give them fresh water, which they usually rush uijon and at once eagerly 

 apply their mouth parts thereto as here shown. 



A brood of young Zillas kept in my study were given water daily 

 by throwing it in spray above the greatly extended fine web upon which 

 they were domiciled. They were often observed to take the moisture by 

 passing the legs to the mouth in the manner above described. On one 

 occasion I observed one of the brood carrying a goodly sized globule of 

 moisture in her jaws, which were spread out (Fig. 8) upon the drop over 

 which, on either side, the palps were also extended. These organs seemed 

 to be inserted into the globule, which, however, probably only adhered to 

 them by means of the delicate hairs upon them. At all events the young 

 aranead climbed over her web, carrying the particle with her. 



At the same time a young Agalena nsevia, which had wandered from 

 her little tent spread on the table beneath, and was promenading the broad 



sheeted commons of the Epeiroids, 

 liad seized one of the largest drops 

 of spray and was making off with 

 it. The water was attached to the 

 mouth parts, as in the above in- 

 stance, but in addition the animal 

 liad tlirown one fore leg (Fig. 9) 

 around the side of the globule. 



Fig. 8. Fig. 9. 



Fir,. 8, a young Zilla, and Fig. 9, a young Agalena 



carrying a drop of water. 



and thus trudged along, literally carrying an armful of water. I watched 

 her until she had gone eight inches in this way, when the drop, which had 

 gradually diminished in size, had nearly disappeared. It was certainly 

 a curious sight, this little spiderling trampling over the gossamer highway 

 carrying in jaw and claw this strange drinking cup, which shone like a 

 silver ball against the black body of its wee porter. 



The same behavior was noticed in another individual of a brood of 

 Epeiroids, similarly confined. One of the young had taken or become en- 

 tangled with a drop of water, which it encompassed in part by one of its 

 second pair of legs, and with the remaining legs strode, back downward, 

 along the web. The moisture did not adhere to the lines, although fre- 

 quently in contact with them, and the drop was carried along several inches 

 to a tall box. As soon as the drop touched the wood it was absorbed, and 

 the spiderling returned to the lines, whereon she susj^ended herself and 

 began licking the dampness from her legs. Such facts strengthen the 

 probability that the dew furnishes a supply for satisfying aranead thirst. 



