SPIDERS. 305 



cmnstance of shooting tlieir lines precisely alike ; but those 

 which we have found the most manageable in experiment- 

 ing, are the small gossamer spider (Aranea obtextrix, Bech- 

 stetn), known by its shining blackish-brown body and 

 reddish-brown semi-transparent legs ; but particularly the 

 long-bodied spider (letragnatha extensa, Late.), which 

 varies in colour from green to brownish or grey — but has 

 always a black line along the belly, with a silvery white or 

 yellowish one on each side. The latter is chiefly recom- 

 mended by being a very industrious and persevering spinner, 

 while its movements are easily seen, from the long cylin- 

 drical form of its body and the length of its legs. 



We placed the above two sjDCcies with five or six others, 

 including the garden, the domestic, and the labyrinthic 

 spiders, in empty wine-glasses, set in tea-saucers filled with 

 water to prevent their escape. When they discovered, by 

 repeated descents from the brims of the glasses, that they 

 were thus surrounded by a wet ditch, they all set them- 

 selves to the task of throwing their silken bridges across. 

 For this purpose they first endeavoured to ascertain in what 

 direction the wind blew, or rather (as the experiment was 

 made in our study) which way any current of air set, — by 

 elevating their arms as we have seen sailors do in a dead 

 calm. But, as it may prove more interesting to keep to 

 one individual, we shall first watch the proceedings of the 

 gossamer spider. 



Finding no current of air on any quarter of the brim of 

 the glass, it seemed to give up all hopes of constructing its 

 bridge of escape, and placed itself in the attitude of repose ; 

 but no sooner did we produce a stream of air, by blowing 

 gently towards its position, than, fixing a thread to the 

 glass, and laying hold of it with one of its feet, by way of 

 security, it placed its body in a vertical position, with its 

 spinnerets extended outwards; and immediately we had 

 the pleasure of seeing a thread streaming out from them 

 several feet in length, on which the little aeronaut sprung 

 up into the air. We were convinced, from what we thus 

 observed, that it was the double or bend of the thread 

 which was blown into the air ; and we assigned as a reason 



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