ARACHKLDA. 253 



Spiders will often place a thread from one spot to another, 

 where it would seeni impossible that they could attach it, 

 such as from the branch of a tree to the corner of a house 

 twenty feet or more from the ground ; it has never been 

 accurately determined how the Spider does this, and it is the 

 more difficult to observe, as it is always done in the night, 

 but it has been supposed that a fine thread is spun, and 

 that the wind carries it across, when it is strengthened 

 and afterwards made tight. The Spider (AraneaB domestica) 

 that makes "cobwebs" in the corners of rooms, is called 



FIG. 32. LONG-LEGGED HOUSE-SPIDER (Aranea dornestica). 



the "Weaving Spider. Some Spiders are called Hunting 

 Spiders, they do not construct webs, but pounce upon 

 their prev ' with a leap ; the My gale avicularis of South 

 America is one of this kind ; it is said that some grow so 

 large that their feet spread out a foot wide. The Long-legged 

 Spider, often found in our houses, and of which fig. 32 

 is an exact copy, measures 3-|- inches, and is the largest 

 species we have. There are also aquatic Spiders, which feed 

 upon insects in the water and dive down for them ; their 

 surface being hairy and unctuous, retains sufficient air to 

 bring them up and prevent them being wetted. The eyes 



