146 



ANIMAL STUDIES 



for lining their burrows, or for the construction of webs of 

 the most diverse patterns. 



138. The habits of spiders. Many species of spiders, some 

 0f which are familiar objects in fields and houses, construct 

 sheets of cobweb with a tube at one side in which they may 



FIG. 86. A tarantula-spider (Eurypelma lentzii). Natural size. Photograph by 

 A. L. MELANDEK and C. T. BRUES. 



lie in wait for their prey or through which they may escape 

 in times of danger. In the webs of the common orb- or 

 wheel-weavers several radial lines are first constructed, and 

 upon these the female spider spins a spiral web. Besting 

 in the center of this or at the margin, with her foot on 

 some of the radial threads, she is able to detect the slight- 

 est tremor and at once to rush upon the entangled captive. 

 Some of the bird-spiders and their allies, living in trop- 

 ical America, and attaining a length of two inches, con- 

 struct web-lined burrows in the ground. From these they 

 stalk their prey, which consists of various insects and even 



