SPIDERS. 313 



position between adjacent branches. The common garden 

 spider (^Epeira diadema), and the long-bodied spider (^Tetrag- 

 natha extensa), are the best known of this order. 



The chief care of a spider of this sort is, to form a cable 

 of sufficient strength to bear the net she means to hang 

 upon it ; and, after throwing out a floating line as above 

 described, when it catches properly she doubles and re- 

 doubles it with additional threads. On trying its strength 

 she is not contented with the test of pulling it with her 

 legs, but drops herself down several feet from various 

 points of it, as we have often seen, swinging and bobbing 

 with the w^hole weight of her body. She proceeds in a 

 similar manner with the rest of the framework of her 

 wheel-shaped net ; and it may be remarked that some of 

 the ends of these lines are not simple, but in form of a Y, 

 giving her the additional security of two attachments in- 

 stead of one. 



In constructing the body of the net, the most remarkable 

 circumstance is her using her limbs as a measure, to regu- 

 late the distances of her radii or wheel-spokes, and the 

 circular meshes interweaved into them. These are conse- 

 quently always proportional to the size of the spider. She 

 often takes up her station in the centre, but not always, 

 though it is so said by inaccurate writers ; for she as fre- 

 quently lurks in a little chamber constructed under a leaf 

 or other shelter at the corner of her web, ready to dart 

 down upon whatever prey may be entangled in her net. 

 The centre of the net is said also to be composed of more 

 viscid materials than its suspensory lines, — a circumstance 

 alleged to be proved by the former appearing under the 

 microscope studded with globules of gum.* We have not 

 been able to verify this distinction, having seen the sus- 

 pensory lines as often studded in this manner as those in 

 the centre. (J. E.) 



Mason-Spiders. 



A no less wonderful structure is composed by a sort of 

 spiders, natives of the tropics and the south of Europe, 



* Kirby and Spence, Iiitr. i. 419. 



