SPIDERS. 317 



which it retires when alarraed by any danger."* In the 

 spring of 1830, we fonnd a spider on some reeds in the 

 Croydon Canal, which agreed in appearance with Mr. 

 Shepherd's. 



Among our native spiders there are several besides this 

 one, which, not contented with a web like the rest of their 

 congeners, take advantage of other materials to construct 

 cells where, " hushed in grim repose," they " expect their 

 insect prey." The most simple of those spider-cells is 

 constructed by a longish-bodied spider (Aranea holosericea, 

 Liifisr.), which is a little larger than the common hunting 

 spider. It rolls up a leaf of the lilac or poplar, precisely 

 in the same manner as is done by the leaf-rolling cater- 

 pillars, upon whose cells it sometimes seizes to save itself 

 trouble, having first expelled, or perhaps devoured, the 

 rightful owner. The spider, however, is not satisfied with 

 the tapestry of the caterpillar, but always weaves a fresh 

 set of her own, much more close and substantial. 



Another spider, common in woods and copses (Epeira 

 qicadrata ?) weaves together a great number of leaves to 

 form a dwelling for herself, and in front of it she spreads 

 her toils for entrapping the unwary insects which stray 

 thither. These, as soon as caught, are dragged into her 

 den, and stored up for a time of scarcity. Here also her 

 eggs are deposited and hatched in safety. When the cold 

 weather approaches, and the leaves of her edifice wither, 

 she abandons it for the more secure shelter of a hollow 

 tree, where she soon dies ; but the continuation of the 

 species depends upon eggs, deposited in the nest before 

 winter, and remaining to be hatched with the warmth of 

 the ensuing summer. 



The spider's den of united leaves, however, which has 

 just been described, is not always useless when withered 

 and deserted ; for the dormouse usually selects it as a ready- 

 made roof for its nest of dried grass. That those old 

 spiders' dens are not accidentally chosen by the mouse, 

 appears from the fact, that out of about a dozen mouse-nests 



* Kirlty and Spence, Intr. i. 425. 



