238 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



that point and the raih-oad terminu.s. The shadows 

 began to lengthen as I sat in the stern of the steamer 

 watching tlie charming panorama of green shore, 

 rocky islands, and lovely villas nnfold while we steamed 

 through the transparent stream. 



" Suddenly a dark object passed between me and the 

 scene. It was a huge Furrow spider {Epcira strix), lay- 

 ing out the foundation" lines of her snare. She had 

 dropped from the cornice of the upper deck to the bul- 

 wark, and was mounting again when I caught sight of 

 her. Another and another followed, and before we 

 landed several webs were spun against the roof. I 

 peeped under the railing against which my seat was 

 placed, and found a number more cozily ensconced 

 within their tough silken tubes awaiting the nightfall 

 to begin operations. 



"Our skipper's yacht I soon found to be occupied by 

 a colony of the same species, and I solved his mystery 

 by calling attention to the fact. 



"These spiders, at various times, have come aboard 

 on little silken balloons, which, as they were borne 

 across the river, struck upon your boat. The tiny 

 aeronauts dismounted, and took up their (piarters. 

 They rarely appear in daytime, but at night, after you 

 have landed and gone home, they creep out, spin 

 their webs, and feed upon night-flying insects. In the 

 morning, before you are ready to sail again, they are 

 1)ack to their dens and tents in crannies under the 

 mouldings. Your men brush down their webs — that's 

 all ! The spiders weave them next morning, quite un- 



