THE WATER-SPIDER. 



547 



lie in wait for its prey, like several others: it is a lively and actira 



liunter. Its head is fuiiiished, as 



in the rest, with immovable eyes. 



Without any motion of the he:jd, 



it perceives all the flies that hover 



around: it does not alarm, but 



stretches over them its arms, fur- 

 ^ lished with feathers, which prove 

 ■ nets that entangle their wings. The 



Spider seizes them between its mer- 

 ciless claws, and instantly sucks 



their blood. 



In its general form, as well as in 



its manner of running, the Wander- 

 ing Spider has much the appearance 



of a small crab. It carries its eggs 



enveloped in a small bag of whitish 



Bilk. 



TUi: WAHDERINO SPIDER. 



THE WATER-SPIDER. 



This singular little creature is a very common inhabitant of our 

 fresh waters. When in the water, its belly appears as if covered 

 with a silver varnish. This, however, is nothing more than a bubble 

 of air, attached to the abdomen by the oily hu.mors which transpire 

 fioni the body, and prevent the immediate contact of the water. By 

 means of this kind of bubble, the insect forms its dwelling under the 

 irater. It tixes several silky threads to the stalks of water-plants, and 

 tlien, ascending to the surface, thrusts the hinder part of its body 

 • bove the water, drawing it back with so much rapidity, as to attach 

 beneath a bubble of air, which it has the art of detaining below, by 

 jtlacing it under the threads above mentioned, and which it bends, 

 like a covering, almost refund it. It then again ascends for another 

 air-bubble, and thus proceeds till it has constructed an aerial apart- 

 ment uuiler the water, which it enters into or quits at pleasure. The 

 male constructs for himself one near that of the female, and afterwards 

 breaks through the thread walls of the female's dwelling; and the 

 tvvo bubbles, attached to the bellies of both, unite into one, forming 

 oae large chamber. 



The female takes care of the young-ones, and constructs similar 

 apartrients for them. 



The figure of this Spider has in it nothing remarkable; and the 

 insect may be overlooked among a crowd of curiosities, if the specta- 

 tor be unacquainted with its singular art of constructing an aerial 

 habitation under water, and thus availing itself of the properties of 

 both elements. It lodges, during the winter, in empty shells, which 

 it dexterously closes with a web. 



35 



