194 ARACHNIDA. 



minute insects which, adhering to the lines, would other- 

 wise be wasted. When frightened, the little spider either 

 feigns death, or suddenly drops to the ground. The web 

 of another species of Epeira, which is ' generally placed 

 among the great leaves of the Agave, is sometimes 

 strengthened near the centre by two or even four zigzag 

 ribands, which connect two adjoining rays. When any 

 large insect, as a grasshopper or wasj), is caught, the spider, 

 by quickly giving it a revolving movement, and at the 

 same time emitting a band of threads from its spinners, 

 soon envelopes its prey in a case resembling the cocoon 

 of a silkworm. The spider now examines its powerless 

 victim and gives the fatal bite on the hind part of its 

 thorax, then retreating, waits till the j)oison has taken 

 effect. The virulence of this poison is such, that in half 

 a minute after being bitten a large wasp is quite lifeless. 



The webs of another species, common in South America, 

 are placed vertically, and separated from each other by a 

 space of about two feet, but are all attached to certain 

 common lines, which are of great length, and extended to 

 all parts of the community ; so that in this manner the 

 tops of large bushes are covered by the united nets. 

 These gregarious habits, in creatures so bloodthirsty and 

 solitary as the spiders, are not a little curious. 



Another American spider builds a web of very singular 

 construction. Strong lines radiate from a common 

 centre, where the creature is stationed, but only two of 

 the rays are connected by mesh-work, so that the net, 

 instead of being circular, consists of a single wedge-shaped 

 segment. — Darwix. 



The Clotlio Durandii constructs a kind of tent wherein 

 it lives and rears its young. This tent is formed by 

 several superimposed sheets of a material resembling the 

 finest taffeta, and its margin presents seven or eight pro- 

 minent angles, which are fixed to the surface of the 

 ground by silken cords. The exterior sheet of the tent is 

 purposely dirtied, for the sake of concealment, but all 

 within is beautifully clean and white. The most admi- 

 rable part of the contrivance, however, is the perfect safety 

 afforded to the young when the parent leaves her nest in 

 search of food. Some of the superimposed sheets are 

 fastened together at their edges ; others are simj^ly laid 

 upon each other ; and as the spider herself only possesses 

 the secret enabling her to raise those layers by which 



