The Life of the Spider 



on any one morning is so small as to rob the 

 spectacle of the greater part of its interest. 

 The scene lacks animation because of the ab- 

 sence of a crowd. 



To my intense disappointment, the Silky 

 Epeira does not either indulge in a tumultu- 

 ous and dashing exodus. Let me remind you 

 of her handiwork, the handsomest of the ma- 

 ternal wallets, next to the Banded Epeira's. 

 It is an obtuse conoid, closed with a star- 

 shaped disk. It is made of a stouter and es- 

 pecially a thicker material than the Banded 

 Epeira's balloon, for which reason a sponta- 

 neous rupture becomes more necessary than 

 ever. 



This rupture is effected at the sides of the 

 bag, not far from the edge of the lid. Like 

 the ripping of the balloon, it requires the 

 rough aid of the heat of July. Its mechan- 

 ism also seems to work by the expansion of 

 the heated air, for we again see a partial emis- 

 sion of the silky floss that fills the pouch. 



The exit of the family is performed in a 

 single group, and, this time, before the moult, 

 perhaps for lack of the space necessary for the 

 delicate casting of the skin. The conical bag 

 falls far short of the balloon in size; those 



