262 ABOUT SPIDEKS AITO THEIR WEBS. 



that the glass be of good quality and the vessel not very 

 wide. Some aquatic plants should be also placed in the 

 vessel, the common Eudorea being an excellent one for 

 the purpose, as it requires no root. All that is needed 

 is to tie a stone to the end of the plant and let it sink. 

 The Eud&rea Avill at first seem languid, as if about to die, 

 but will soon put forth an abundance of fresh shoots, 

 which will choke the vessel unless they are thinned. 



If the spiders be in good health they will clamber 

 among the plants, rise to the surface, and dive again. 

 But they will never attempt to escape from the vessel, 

 and so there is no necessity for a cover. 



After they have occupied the vessel for a little time, 

 each will seem to take a fancy to a particular spot, 

 always returning to it after rising to the surface. If 

 that spot be examined with a magnifying-glass, a num- 

 ber of threads will be seen between the leaves and 

 stems of the plants, crossing and recrossing each other 

 repeatedly. 



When it has spun a considerable number of these 

 threads, the spider gathers its limbs nearly close to the 

 body and moves them as if combing itself. After keep- 

 ing up this movement for some little time, it gives a 

 smart jerk, and kicks off the bubble of air which sur- 

 rounds its body. The bubble rises, but is entangled 

 among the silken threads, while the spider goes off to 

 the surface for a fresh supply of air. 



Sometimes it seems dissatisfied with its work, turns 

 round, and with another jerk kicks the bubble back 



