FOOD OF INSECTS. 421 



and in slight furrows in the ground a net consisting of 

 threads spun without any regularity in all directions, 

 but so strong as to entrap grasshoppers, which are said 

 to be its principal food ; and a similar inartificial snare 

 of simple threads is often spun in windows by Theridium 

 bipnnctatum and several other species. Segestria senocu- 

 lata and its affinities conceal themselves in a long cylin- 

 drical straight silken tube, from the mouth of which they 

 stretch out their six anterior feet, whose extremities rest 

 upon as many diverging threads : thus, as soon as an 

 insect walks across any of the threads (which are eight 

 or ten inches long) the insect's toes give it warning of 

 prey being at hand, when it rushes out and seldom fails 

 to secure its victim. 



" The spider's touch how exquisitely fine ! 

 Feels at each thread, and lives along the line." 



M. Homberg tells us that he has seen a vigorous wasp 

 carried off and destroyed by one of these species. 



The spiders, to which I have hitherto adverted, seize 

 their prey by means of webs or nets ; but a very large 

 number, though, like the former, they spin silken co- 

 coons for containing their eggs, never employ the same 

 material in constructing similar snares, of which they 

 make no use. 



These may be separated into two grand divisions : the 

 first comprising those which conceal themselves and lie 

 in ambuscade for their prey, and sometimes run after it 

 to a short distance; the second, those which are con- 

 stantly roaming about in every direction in search of it, 

 and seize it by open violence. The former Walckenaer, 

 in his admirable work on spiders, has designated by the 



