NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



like ribbons from their tops. These are the ropes and 

 netting of ballooning spielers. 



If, now, one will glance upward, he will be apt to see 

 long, white, sinuous filaments drifting through the air, 

 over tree-tops, across streams, far aloft, or perhaps low 

 enough to be within reach. If he will grasp one of these 

 threads he may find in his hand a 

 small spider; but not always, for 

 many drifting filaments are simply 

 trial threads, or loose bits of the 

 drag-lines which spiders are apt to 

 throw out as anchors when they 

 walk. His captive will be a flying 

 spider, arrested in 

 aeronautic flight, and 

 the silken filament is, 

 in fact, her balloon. 



THE FIRST ATTITUDE OF FLIGHT 



Balloonist spider issuing silken streamers. Figures of spiders in 



this and following illustrations are relatively much magnified 



184 



