SPIDERS. 115 



gles, when the spider carries it off to some nook, there to de- 

 vour it. 



106. One of the most common spider-nets is like the one 

 shown in Fig. 74. If the place selected is in the opening 

 of a window or similar place, the spider first runs a few 

 threads as a sort of framework, to which are to be afterward 

 attached the radiating threads, that is, those which run from 

 the centre of the net to the sides. Having arranged these 

 so near together that the spider can easily reach from one 

 radiating thread to the other, the creature commences at the 

 centre of the net, and runs a thread from one radiating thread 

 to the other in a rapidly-unwinding spiral till it reaches the 

 outer edge of the net. This is to form a staging, and also 

 the better to hold the radiating threads in place. It then 

 commences at the outside, and going back over its last course 

 carefully constructs the permanent mesh ; and, as it comes to 

 each radiating thread, it will be seen to attach to it the 

 thread it is now making, by simply pressing the spinnerets 

 against it. As it goes around again and again, continually 

 lessening the circle, it gathers up the thread which was first 

 laid as a staging, and, rolling it up in little balls, drops 

 it to the ground. This habit has led to the impression 

 that the spider eats its web. The circular threads are 

 glutinous, while the radiating threads are smooth, and this 

 can be proved by throwing dust through the net, when the 

 cross-threads will catch and hold the dust, while the radiat- 

 ing threads will remain clean. The actual centre of the net 

 is not the geometrical or true centre, but a little above it. 



