794 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



one, also extending the envelope over it. The process is kept up 

 till the " diving-bell " has reached the proper size, and is finished. 

 The ideal form of the construction is that of a thimble, but it often 

 assumes an irregular shape, like an inverted sack (Fig, 5). When 

 the spider has taken possession of its redoubt it remains quiet in 

 it, head down, watching for the appearance of an insect. Perceiv- 

 ing one, it seizes it and returns to its lodge, which it has secured 

 against intruders by spinning threads across it, to devour its prey 

 at its leisure. The argyroneti being as ferocious as other spiders,, 

 the matter of marriage involves a grave crisis to the male. If he 

 should present himself bluntly at the female's diving-bell, the re- 

 sult of the application would probably be fatal to him. But his- 

 instincts are adequate to the occasion, and he uses diplomacy, 

 stratagem, and address. He makes a diving-bell near the female's, 

 and adds a wide gallery between them. When his preliminary 

 operations have been finished, he breaks through the wall of the 

 female's lodge and surprises her into an embrace which is not 

 always disagreeable to her. The young live for some time with 

 their mother, whose solicitude for her little family is unremit- 

 ting. When they have become strong enough, the young ones 

 accept the struggle for existence and separate, each one going, as 

 its parents did, to construct its cell and live a solitary life. 



We now change our point of observation, and look at a spider 

 that lives still another kind of life — as an inhabitant of our homes 

 (Fig, 6), In a corner of the room under the ceiling is stretched a 

 web, and on the web, watchful, stands a long- 

 legged spider. It is the spider of all dwellings, 

 and its presence is tolerated — the Tegenaria do- 

 mestica. It has so pronounced a taste for dwell- 

 ing-houses that it acts as if men's houses were 

 built especially for it, A skillful weaver, it has 

 at its disposal a quite abundant mass of silk» 

 Its web is formed of an even material, which 

 has been carded b/ tools of exquisite fineness, 

 assuring the perfection of the work. When new. 

 Fig. 6.— Common House the web is a pure whitc ; but it soon becomes 

 meSafe.r^^"'''^*" soilcd with dust and wears an unpleasant look, 

 which, however, does not seem to give the pro- 

 prietor any concern. The domestic spider is timid, and does not 

 feel fully secure unless it has a good hiding-place to run to. It 

 has reserved a vacant spot in the corner of the wall, and this is 

 the road by which it steals away when it is alarmed. Beneath 

 its web it has fixed a roomy hammock in which to take refuge. 

 It deposits its eggs in a silken cocoon, which it hides under for- 

 eign bodies to conceal it from the greed of animals that would 

 appreciate too well the delicious meats. During incubation, the 



