Of) PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF Ql'EENSLAND. 



At 2.30 it was still ^vo^king at the peduncle, occasionally 

 finisliiiig off its spins near to the centre of the cocoon. The 

 peduncle of the cocoon ^vas now nearly one-eighth of an inch 

 in diameter, and tliis was slightly expanded again at the very 

 top, where attachments were made. 



At 2.45 the spider stopped spinning for the first time 

 during the whole process, so far as we could see from our 

 almost continuous observations. She rested on the peduncle 

 for about ten minutes, and then she proceeded to test the 

 supporting strands, adding several to the surrounding leaves^ 

 and twigs. This Avork Avas continued until 3.20. Lines were 

 taken far back among the surrounding leaves and these were 

 bound together, as though the spinner Avere aware that thev 

 might otherAA-ise fall off and imperil the AAhole structure. 

 Possibly this extra Avork AA-as necessary because the cocoons 

 Avere hanging AAith plenty of space betAveen the angle of the 

 tAA'o branches. Attachments AAere made to the top and to 

 loAver portions of the peduncle, so that the cocoon could safely 

 sAAing in the A^ind Avithout breaking a thread. Like a skilled 

 engineer, the spinner Avent carefuUj' OA^er her Avork, testing", 

 adding, -strengthening, as though determined to make it as 

 secure as Avas spiderly pos.sible. For short periods she remained 

 quiescent, but it Avas not until 4 o'clock that she A\'as fully satis- 

 fied and moA^ed .slowly along her lines to the cosy retreat. 



It is astonishing to see the jiOAAers and the limitations of 

 instinct. Tliis skilful spinner had apparenth- neither the art 

 nor the incUnation to mend the rent in her cocoon when it Avas 

 torn by the Gryllacrid. 



Probably her far-off ancestors Avere content to spin a 

 simple cocoon Anth but one euA'clope. And cA^en with the 

 double shield but fcAA- of these spiders surAive. for they do 

 not appear to be very common. Nature is CA-er prodigal Avith 

 her resources, and it ma}^ be that, of all the jirogeny of this 

 night of spinning under the moon, but one or two will surA'iAe 

 the perils of ballooning aa hen they emerge on their fearless 

 flight. 



The fifth cocoon Avas spun on 7th Ma}', fifteen days after- 

 wards, on a dark, moonless night. The sixth Avas made on 

 23rd ^lay in threatening Aveather, the spider apparently 

 hesitating until after 10 o'clock Avhether or not to spin. On 

 14th June the scA'enth and last cocoon of the season A\as 

 made, this being onh' tAvo-thirds the size of the others. 



