PROCURING FOOD AND FEEDING. 



251 



Fig. 229. A fly lightly swathed and trussed up. 



With great rapidity the abdomen is then doubled under, and a jet of 

 thick, white silk issued from the expanded spinnerets, and thrown out 

 rapidly by the hind legs. At the same time the insect is revolved by the 

 united action of the short third pair of legs, the two fore legs, and not 

 infrequently by the aid of the hind pair also. There is much difference 

 in this respect, but the first, third, and 

 fourth pairs seem always to be used. As 

 the fly is rolled around by the feet the 

 swathing thread envelops it something 

 after the manner of woolen yarns as they 

 pass from a spindle to a reel. But some- 

 times the spider revolves her own body as 

 well as the fly, thus facilitating the rapid- 

 ity with which the victim is enswathed. 

 There is, of course, a great difference in 

 the amount of swathing thread used at 

 different times. Sometimes a few threads 

 suffice, so that the outlines of the insect's 

 body and limbs are clearly seen through them. (Fig. 229.) Again, the 

 bandages will be a veritable winding .sheet, and perfectly conceal the de- 

 tails of the victim, showing only a lumpy outline, a creature as truly 

 mummied as was' ever one of Egypt's sacred animals. (Fig. 235.) 



Epeira trifolium was observed capturing a grasshopper. She approached 

 very cautiously from above, and, as she drew near tlie entangled insect, 

 threw out one fore leg and then another, drawing each back quickly as 

 though feeling the character of tlie prey. Being satisfied, she dropped to 

 one side and threw out two wide, thick streams of silk. These issued from 

 either side of the spinning rosette, and each stream was fed evidently by 

 the three spinnerets upon either side. (Fig. 230.) These two streams at 

 once seized hold upon the limbs of the entangled grasshopper, and as the 

 spider began to revolve the insect they were reeled 

 out, rapidly covering the whole insect with swathing 

 material. These streams of silk, after the fir.st gush, 

 were drawn out alternately by the two hind leg.s — 

 first one, and then the other, being used. Presently 

 the spider dropped below her victim, and thence 

 passed to the side opposite, continuing her oper- 

 ations until the insect was satisfactorily wound up. 

 She did not strike it with her fangs at all, but 

 retired to her den, dragging after her the swathing thread, which was 

 widely divergent where it laid hold upon the grasshopper, but gradually 

 converged as the spider moved away and closed her spinnerets, until it be- 

 came a single thread. (Fig. 231.) This mode I have observed at various 

 times. 



Fig. 230. A double stream of 

 swathing silk. 



