SPIDER-LIKE ANIMALS 



375 



white silk, and is covered with small dead leaves or flowers, or 

 the stamens of larger flowers, or with anything which has pre- 

 sented itself, and is decorated with the wings and other parts 

 of insects, as the wigwam of an Indian with scalps and other 

 war-trophies. It is remarkable how often, where the insect is 

 not uncommon, the beautiful wing-cases of the green nut-weevil 

 are found among these ornaments. Within this tent is the little 

 round green silk cocoon containing the eggs, and the mother is 

 almost always to be found in an inverted position embracing this 



Fig. 894. Water-Spiders (Argyroneta aquatica} and Nests 



treasure, and hiding it with her body, which it about equals in 

 size. When the young are hatched, they live with their mother 

 in this tent until they are able to make their own living." 



The remarkable Water-Spider (Argyroneta aquatica, fig. 894) 

 constructs below the surface a neat nest shaped like a diving-bell, 

 and skilfully moored to some aquatic plant. Within this the 

 cocoon is deposited. In such a spider the air used for breathing 

 purposes is entangled in the downy covering of the abdomen, 

 and, under water, shines like quicksilver. But this has nothing 

 to do with the air-supply of the nest, which is provided for in 

 a somewhat singular manner. We should naturally expect the 

 walls of this elegant structure to be first woven, and air to be 

 afterwards introduced, but this does not appear to be the case. 

 The spider commences operations by protruding the tip of her 



