182 lOAVA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXV, 191S 



authenticated this case by obtaining written statements from eye- 

 witnesses, and by determining specimens, said to be the same as 

 the spider heroine, as T. tepidariorum K. 



Dr. Fiteh relates an equally wonderful feat of a house spider 

 that snared a snake a foot long which did not die until six days 

 later. This was done by the spider throwing a loop aroimd the 

 snake's neck, and pulling the victim higher and higher until it 

 was almost free from the ground. Such feats as these are un- 

 usual, yet the house spider is a vicious huntsman when she is 

 driven by hunger. The writer has several tmies seen females 

 drop from their webs, and snare with their silk victims much 

 larger than themselves. It appears plausible that the mouse 

 might have been snared in this way by a female driven by great 

 hunger. 



The feeding habits of the male and of the spiderlings are sim- 

 ilar to those of the female. The male has not the strength or 

 spinning ability of the female hence confines his attack to smaller 

 prey. The spiderlings feed chiefly upon gnats and other minute 

 insects which they snare in a manner similar to that of the adult. 



Thirst of Spiders. — It has been the observation of all who have 

 studied the spiders that they become quite thirsty. The house 

 spider is no exception to this general rule. They demand w^ater 

 almost daily during hot weather, and when a small spray is 

 turned upon their web they will hurry to sip many of the small 

 droplets adhering to the silken threads. 



If an individual is supplied with an abundance of fresh flies, 

 one a day at least, it can live for several days, probably weeks, 

 without water, but if water is at hand it will drink as if quite 

 thirsty. House spiders will never be found in abundance in 

 diy places where water is not available for drink. It is in damp 

 basements, damp cellars, or in greenhouses where much water is 

 used in spraying that they are found in considerable numbers. 



If a spader has gone for a long while without water, and is 

 then allowed to drink its fill, the abdomen is noticed to swell out 

 very perceptibly. Frequently the writer has ol)sen^ed a female 

 drink several good sized drops of water before her thirst w^as 

 (juenehed. 



The Cocoon — How Made — Its Contents. — The cocoon is al- 

 most oval in shape, but is considera.bly drawn out at the upper 

 end where it is suspended to the web, so as to make it somewhat 



