HOUSE SPIDERS 213 



the gall oak still retain. Young trees, being sheltered in 

 many cases by trees of greater stature, catch the wind 

 less, and this may be the reason why young oaks and 

 beeches keep their leaves through the winter more fre- 

 quently than full-grown ones. Trees which do not cast 

 their leaves at the approach of winter give a much greater 

 hold to the wind, and have need of peculiarly tough and 

 strong wood, such as oak and beech actually possess. 



XL. HOUSE SPIDERS. 



To give a plain account of the mode of life of any spider 

 is no easy task. None of our native species are of large 

 size, and the details of structure, such as the jaws, the 

 eyes, or the spinnerets require the use of the microscope. 

 Moreover spiders, especially such as make webs, generally 

 work by night. Those which do not remain motionless 

 by day are often hidden in corners where observation 

 is difficult. Hence there are no animals equally common 

 and equally interesting about which the untrained naturalist 

 knows so little. It may be thought that these are good 

 reasons for saying nothing about spiders in a book which 

 is not meant for learned students. But the spiders force 

 themselves on our attention. Only a very incurious 

 person can be satisfied to remain quite ignorant of the 

 house spider, or the garden spider, or the diving spider, 

 and whatever the difficulties we must face them, trusting 

 that even a beginner, without microscope or skill in dis- 

 section, may be able to learn some little about these most 

 ingenious artificers. 



The house spider usually makes an almost horizontal 

 web in an angle between two walls. It prefers a cellar 

 or outhouse to an inhabited room, not only because it 

 loves peace, but because it thrives best in a damp situation. 

 Spiders in general are fond of moisture, and their bodies 

 shrink when they cannot obtain a due supply. 



