1g15.] F. H. GRAavety: Indian Insects, Myriapods, etc. 535 
Fischer’s observations on the way in which these social 
spiders treat their victims is not in accordance either with Jambu- 
nathan’s observations or my own. Instead of the prey being 
left to die as stated by Fischer, I have always found that any- 
thing caught in the web, whether by day or by night, is at 
once attacked. Under suitable conditions, however, very exten- 
sive snares may be spun, and it is possible that insects caught 
in the part of a large snare furthest from the nest may not attract 
attention so readily as do those caught near the nest. 
The nest in which the spiders hide by day is a tough mass of 
cobweb mixed with dead leaves, insect integuments, etc. (pl. xxv, 
fig. 30). At dusk the spiders come out and float threads of silk from 
the upturned abdomen in the usual way, till one or more of them 
gets attached to some object at a little distance fromthe nest. These 
threads are then strengthened, and form the foundations of irregu- 
larly meshed snares (pl. xxv, figs. 30-31). The foundations of these 
snares are composed of one or more strands of relatively coarse 
silk. Between, and often along, these strands, strands of another 
kind are laid (pl. xxv, figs. 31-33). These are broader and have a 
softer and more woolly appearance ; when carefully examined thev 
are found to consist of a fine central thread overlaid with irregu- 
larly twisted threads and a sticky foam-like silk that I suppose 
to be the product of the cribellum. The hind legs may always be 
seen working against this organ when these strands are produced. 
The second type of strand is not only very sticky but also very 
elastic. Strands of this type unite the foundation lines in all direc- 
tions, and when an insect gets caught among them they give 
before its struggles, and are not liable to break. Snares seem, 
however, to suffer from the weather ; and many strands may be 
broken as the captured prey is dragged along towards the nest to 
be eaten. | 
Repairs and extensions are always carried out after sunset ; 
but the spiders seem to be ready for food at any time. A fly 
thrown into the snare always brings them out at once. How the 
presence of prey in the snare is detected I have not been able 
to determine with certainty. If the snare is disturbed by one’s 
finger the spiders hastily retreat into the nest. This suggests that 
sight is of use in this connection; but a dead fly was found to 
attract no attention. A specimen of the Rutelid beetle Adorvetus, 
on the other hand, was at once pounced upon when placed in the 
snare although its movements were quite unlike those of the fly. 
Perhaps, therefore, touch calls the attention of the spiders to the 
presence of something in the snare, and sight determines their 
action towards it. The slaying of a large and strongly chitinized 
insect like Adoretus is a much more difficult feat for the spiders 
than is the slaying of a fly; but they persist until it is accom- 
plished. 
Associations of other animals with African species of Stegody- 
phus have been recorded by Marshall (Zoologist, [4] II, pp. 417-422) 
and Pocock (Ent. Mo. Mag., [2] XIV [XXXIX], pp. 167-170). 
