210 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



the outer envelopes. (Figs. 242, 243.) I have noted these openings in co- 

 coons of Agalena nsevia which were under observation for that purpose; 

 the period at which the openings were .cut was identified, and the 

 Egress little inmates seen peeping out at the round doors, of which there 

 c were, in some cases, a number opened, from which also they 



escaped when the cocoon was agitated. Similar openings have 

 frequently been observed in the cocoons of Argiope cophinaria, Epeira 

 cornigera, Argyrodes trigonum, and in numerous examples of Epeiroid, 

 Tubitelarian, and Laterigrade cocoons. In these, however, as a rule, there 

 was only one opening, but sometimes two. 



Professor Wilder has recorded some facts upon this point. 1 Cocoons 



of the Basket Argiope kept by him in South Carolina were never seen to 



be pierced by the inmates. Of four hundred and six cocoons 



Argiope obtained on James Island in the spring of 1865, only one hun- 



naria dred and thirty-four were entire, presenting no opening what- 



Cocoons. ever - Of the others one hundred and ninety were pierced when 



found, but no spiders came out of these before May 10th. The 



openings in them were similar to that made in a New York cocoon June 



14th, by the inmates themselves. This hole was near the pedicle or stem 



of the cocoon, and from it 

 the young escaped. Of the 

 remaining eighty-two co- 

 coons fifty-nine were torn 

 in one or more places, and 



PIG. 242. FIG. 243. 10 Se Sllk P rOCeeded thrOUgh 



Drassid cocoons, to show the openings out of which the young the rents. Professor Wilder 



have escaped. Qnce ^ ft ^ ^ ^ 

 FIG. 242. Front view. FIG. 243. Side view. 



the size of a sparrow, fly 



at a cocoon hanging in a tree, make one or two quick pulls and then re- 

 treat. He is therefore inclined to think that all the above rents were so 

 caused ; and, as these attacks would usually open the cocoon without in- 

 juring the inmates, he drew the inference that this might be a provision 

 of Nature, somewhat like the fertilization of flowers by insects, by which 

 the invasion of the cocoon should really permit the continuance of the 

 species. 



There may be some ground for this inference, but it is certain that in 

 ordinary cases no such external provision is required. Birds are much 

 Deliver dis P osed to use tne silken material of spider cocoonery for their 

 by Birds. nest buildin g operations. Mr. Thomas Meehan, the botanist, has 

 seen the pewit engaged in collecting spider's spinningwork on his 

 grounds at Germantown. Hummingbirds are known to make large draughts 

 upon spider webs for nest building material. I have in my collection 



1 Proceed. Am. Assoc., 1873, page 260. 



