SPINNING OKGANS OF SPIDERS. 237 



and in every detail, could only have been planned and formed 

 by the power and wisdom of God ! 



On examining the uses to which the spiders put their admir- 

 able spinning organs, we shall find in every case the workman 

 worthy of his tools. When a house or common spider is about 

 to form a web, it first selects some commodious and secure spot, 

 where insects appear to be in sufficient abundance. It then distils 

 a small drop of its glutinous liquid, and creeping up the wall and 

 spinning its thread as it proceeds, darts itself in a very surpris- 

 ing manner to the opposite station, where the other end of the 

 web is to be fastened. The first thread thus spun, drawn tight and 

 fixed at each end, the spider runs on it to and fro, still assiduously 

 employed in doubling and strengthening it, as on its force the 

 stability of the whole fabric depends. The scaffolding being thus 

 completed, the spider draws a number of threads parallel to and 

 within the first in the same manner, and then crosses them with 

 others, the adhesive substance of which they are formed serving 

 to bind them together when newly spun. This operation being 

 completed, the industrious little architect doubles and trebles 

 the thread that borders its web, by opening all its papillaB at 

 once, and so secures the edges as to prevent the wind from dis- 

 placing the work. The edges being thus fortified, the retreat is 

 next to be attended to ; and this is formed like a funnel, where 

 the little workman lies concealed. To this there are two pas- 

 sages or outlets, one above and the other below, very artfully 

 contrived to allow the animal an opportunity of making excur- 

 sions in every direction. Frequently also, from the main web, 

 there are several threads extended at some distance on each 

 side, like the cordage of a ship ; this may be considered as the 

 outworks of the fortification, which whenever touched from 

 without, instantly communicate the intelligence by the vibration 

 of the net, and bid the lurking spider prepare for attack or self- 

 defence. If the insect impinging happens to be a fly, the con- 

 cealed assassin instantly springs forward to pierce it with his 

 murderous mandibles ; but if, on the contrary, he perceives an 

 enemy stronger than himself, he then, considering discretion to 

 be the better part of valour, keeps quietly within his fortress, 

 and never stirs till the storm is blown over. 



If the web has been destroyed, the spider is able to renew it 



