GENERAL COCOONING HABITS OF SPIDERS. 



127 



^Oifc^ ^-- 



IG. 144. Cocoon of Clubiona tranquilla, woven on 

 a stick, and slightly mud plastered. 



commonly deposited inside, without any or with only a little flossy pad- 

 ding. The exterior is frequently plastered more or less freely with mud 

 or the detritus of decayed wood. 



Clubiona tranquilla makes a hemispherical or button shaped cocoon, 

 which is attached to various surfaces, as of rocks, bark, or boards. (Fig. 

 143.) One female confined within a jar for observation spun her co- 

 coon upon a little twig placed for her 

 convenience within the vessel. As first 

 completed by the mother the external 

 covering was pure white silk. But, fol- 

 lowing her maternal instinct, she de- 

 scended to the earth upon the bottom 

 of the jar, collected pellets of mud between her mandibles, carried them up 

 to her cocoon, and daubed the surface over in little ridges until the whole 

 was quite mottled with the plastered mud. (Fig. 144.) 



Sometimes the Drassid's cocoon is contained within the tubular domi- 

 cile of the mother, and this again will be overspread with a tent of deli- 

 cate texture, as in the case of the Parson spider, Prosthesima ecclesiastica 

 (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus Hentz). (Fig. 145.) 



The Parson spider is a quite large species one haK inch long, with a 

 black body, marked along the thorax and dorsum of the abdomen with 

 decided circular and oblong patches of white, to which peculiar 

 markings it owes its specific name. Its habits ai-e tho.se of the 

 Drassids generally, although it is not as sedentary as some others, 

 but wanders in search of prey. It is commonly found upon trees, 

 fences, etc., near some recess or opening into which it may retreat. Like 

 some of our common house Theridioids, it is fond of taking refuge under 

 the projecting parts of outhouses. In winter it is found wrapped in a 

 thick sheeted tube of silk under the bark of trees and like situations. It 

 is active in its movements, and prowls for its prey. It makes its cocoon 



early in June. This is com- 

 jjosed of several layers of pure 

 white silk, between one of 

 which particles of dust are 

 placed and cjuilted in with 

 spinningwork. I have found 

 the chippings of the carpenter 

 bee among these particles. 

 An interesting and rather pretty little Tubeweaver, which appears to be 

 Micaria aureata, the Herpyllus aureatus of Hentz, conceals its cocoon with- 

 in a double tent. (Fig. 146.) The cocoon itself is a small, button shaped 

 object, containing a few brownish yellow eggs. The example illustrated in 

 the figure was spun within the angle of a wall, and covered over with a 

 tube such as the spider usually spins for a dwelling place. Openings were 



The 



Parson 



Spider. 



Fig. 145. The Parson spider brooding her cocoon within au 

 enclosing tent. 



