244 FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



The spinning organs are numerous glands which lie 

 in the abdomen, filling the larger part of the cavity; and 

 the fluid matter in them leaves the spinning glands to be 

 joined in larger, less watery groups of spinning material, 

 and finally leaves the body by the spinnerets, six in 

 number. Out of each of these spinnerets flows a drop of 

 the semi-fluid material ; and by some motion of the spider's 

 body, the separate spinneret products are combined 

 into one strong thread or cable. In spinning the web, the 

 spider runs the supporting frame- work first, and as it 

 spins the cross threads, if it is a round web weaver, it will 

 glue each new thread every time it crosses the frame- work. 

 If you are quiet and stand where your shadow does not 

 fall on the place where the spider is working, you may see 

 for yourself how she spins her web. 



As to the development of spiders: each spider spins 

 a tiny silken mat, upon which she lays her eggs ; then she 

 doubles up the corners of the mat and glues the ends 

 securely about the clutch of eggs. Other spiders spin a 

 large urn-shaped case with a small opening; the outside 

 of the sack is formed of tough, compact silk, while the 

 inside is lined with loose threads. The inside of most 

 spider nests are similarly made, probably to keep the 

 eggs from sticking together when they are first laid, as they 

 are then wet and more or less sticky. 



The rate of development varies. Some eggs laid in 

 autumn develop slowly all winter; while others laid in 

 early summer will hatch in a few weeks, often two. The 

 hatching usually occupies a day or two. The tiny spiders 

 are white, soft-bodied, without any hairs or spines, and 

 with only small claws on the feet. Maturity is reached 

 by frequent moultings. In a few days they begin to 

 look more like spiders; the hairs begin to form, and the 



