THE BANDED EPEIRA 179 



In twenty-four hours the threads have lost their con- 

 tents and are reduced to almost invisible streaks. If I 

 then lay a drop of water on the glass, I get a sticky 

 solution similar to that which a particle of gum arabic 

 might yield. The conclusion is evident: the Epeira's 

 glue is a substance that absorbs moisture freely. In an 

 atmosphere with a high degree of humidity, it becomes 

 saturated and percolates by sweating through the side of 

 the tubular threads. 



These data explain certain facts relating to the work of 

 the net. The Epeirae weave at very early hours, long 

 before dawn. Should the air turn misty, they sometimes 

 leave that part of the task unfinished : they build the gen- 

 eral framework, they lay the spokes, they even draw the 

 auxiliary spiral, for all these parts are unaffected by ex- 

 cess of moisture ; but they are very careful not to work 

 at the lime-threads, which, if soaked by the fog, would 

 dissolve into sticky shreds and lose their efficacy by being 

 wetted. The net that was started will be finished to- 

 morrow, if the atmosphere be favorable. 



While the highly absorbent character of the snaring- 

 thread has its drawbacks, it also has compensating ad- 

 vantages. The Epeirae, when hunting by day, affect 

 those hot places, exposed to the fierce rays of the sun, 

 wherein the Crickets delight. In the torrid heats of the 

 dog-days, therefore, the lime-threads, but for special pro- 

 visions, would be liable to dry up, to shrivel into stiff and 

 lifeless filaments. But the very opposite happens. At 

 the most scorching times of the day they continue supple, 

 elastic and more and more adhesive. 



