SPIDERS. 209 



Wonderful properties in the Garden Spider. 



When the garden Spider, (Aranea hor^ 

 ticola) is desirous of flitting from one place 

 to another, this animal fixes one end of a 

 thread to the place where she stands, and 

 then with her hind paws draws out several 

 other threads from the nipples, which, being 

 lengthened out, and driven by the wind to 

 some neighbouring tree, or other object, are, 

 by their natural clamminess, fixed to it. 

 When she finds that these are fastened, she 

 makes of them a bridge, on which she can 

 pass or repass at pleasure. This done, she 

 renders the thread still thicker, by spinning 

 others to it. From this thread she often 

 descends, by spinning downward to the 

 ground. The thread formed by the latter 

 operation she fixes to some stone, plant, or 

 other substance. She reascends to the first 

 thread, and at a little distance from the 

 second, begins a third, which she fixes in the 

 same manner. She now strengthens all the 

 three threads, and beginning at one of the 

 corners, weaves across, and at last forms a 

 t3 



