THE ANNALS 



AND 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTOEY. 



[SIXTH SERIES.] 

 No. 44. AUGUST 1891. 



XIII. — The Oviposition and Cocoon-weaving o/Agelena 

 labjrinthica. By C. Warburton. * 



[Plate X.J 



The various spinning-operations of spiders have received tlie 

 close attention of many naturalists, and notably of McCook, 

 whose important work * gives a comprehensive account of 

 the result of observations in this field of natural history. 



The subject is, however, by no means exhausted, and any 

 contribution to the facts already collected may possess some 

 interest. 



As far as I am aware no accurate account has been pub- 

 lished of the cocoon-weaving of Agelena lahyrinthica^ one of 

 our largest and most abundant British species. 



Every one is familiar with the sheet-like web of this spider, 

 which is so common an object on the banks of ditches or at 

 the foot of the hedgerows which bound our fields and country 

 lanes. The extensive closely- woven sheet is continuous with 

 a silken tube, in which the spider lurks, ready to rush out 

 upon any insect whicli may alight upon its web. 



Agelena lahyrinthica is a species of spider which breeds 

 freely in captivity. Moreover, it is not easily disturbed in 

 its cocooning operations, which always take place by night, 



* ' American Spiders and their Spinning Work,' by H. McCook. 

 Ann. & Mag. K Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. viii. 8 



