The Banded Epeira 



outline a crater which needs plugging. The 

 Spider closes the bag with a padded stopper 

 similar to that with which she sealed the egg- 

 pocket. 



When these arrangements are made, the 

 real manufacture of the wrapper begins. 

 The Spider goes backwards and forwards, 

 turns and turns again. The spinnerets do not 

 touch the fabric. With a rhythmical, alter- 

 nate movement, the hind-legs, the sole im- 

 plements employed, draw the thread, seize it 

 in their combs and apply it to the work, while 

 the tip of the abdomen sways methodically to 

 and fro. 



In this way, the silken fibre is distributed 

 in an even zigzag, of almost geometrical pre- 

 cision and comparable with that of the cotton 

 thread which the machines in our factories 

 roll so neatly into balls. And this is repeated 

 all over the surface of the work, for the 

 Spider shifts her position a little at every 

 moment. 



At fairly frequent intervals, the tip of the 

 abdomen is lifted to the mouth of the bal- 

 loon ; and then the spinnerets really touch the 

 fringed edge. The length of contact is even 

 considerable. We find, therefore, that the 



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