aoCSE-SPIDBR. 



THE HOUSE-SPIDER. 543 



five teats, the orifices of which the insects have the power of con 

 tracting and dilating at pleasure. When they enter on the construc- 

 tion of this curious fabric, they fix on a spot apparently calculated 

 both for plunder and security. The animal then distils one little 

 drop of glutinous liquor, which is very tenacious; and creeping 

 along the wall, and joining its thread as it proceeds, it darts itself to 

 the opposite side, where the other end is to be fastened. The first 

 thread thus formed, being drawn tight and fixed at each end, the 

 Spider runs on it backward and forward, still doubling and strength 



ening it, as on this depends the 

 stability of the whole. The scaf- 

 folding thus completed, it makes 

 a number of threads parallel to 

 the first, and then crosses them 

 with others : the clammy sub- 

 stance of which they are formed 

 serves, when first made, to bind 

 them to each other. At the 

 bottom of the web a kind of 

 funnel is constructed, in which 

 the little creature lies concealed. 

 In this den of destruction it 

 ■watches with unremitted assiduity till its prey is entangled; when 

 this is the case it instantly dar's upon its victim and deprives it of 

 life. 



The webs of Spiders differ from those woven by any human artist 

 in this circumstance : in our work, the threads extended in length 

 are interlaced with those that are carried on transversely ; whereas, 

 the threads of a Spider's woof only cross the threads of the warp, 

 and are glued to them in the points where they mutually touch, and 

 are not either inserted or interwoven. 



The threads along the border of the work are doubled or trebled, 

 by the Spider's opening all her teats at once, and gluing several 

 threads one over another; sensible that the extremity of the web 

 ought to be hemmed and fortified, in order to preserve it from being 

 torn. She likewise further secures and supports it with strong loops, 

 or double threads, which she fixes all around it, and which hinder il 

 from being the sport of the winds. 



From time to time she finds it necessary to clear away the dust, 

 which would otherwise incommode her web, and she sweeps the 

 whole by giving it a shake with hei^ paw ; but in doing this she so 

 nicely proportions the force of the blow to the strength of the work, 

 that nothing is ever broken. 



From all parts of the web are drawn several threads, which termi- 

 nate, like rays in a centre, at the place of her concealment. Iha 

 vibration of any of these threads is communicated to her, and gives 

 her notice whenever there is game in the net, and accordingly she 

 springs upon it in an instant. She derives another advantage from 

 this retreat under her web ; she there feasts on her prey in full security. 

 Tt also gives her the power ol concealing the carcasses, and not leay 



