The Garden Spiders: The Lime-Snare 



In twenty-four hours, the threads have lost 

 their contents and are reduced to almost in- 

 visible streaks. If I then lay a drop of water 

 on the glass, I get a sticky solution, similar to 

 that which a particle of gum arable might 

 yield. The conclusion is evident : the Epeira's 

 glue is a substance that absorbs moisture 

 freely. In an atmosphere with a high degree 

 of humidity, it becomes saturated and pero> 

 lates by sweating through the side of the 

 tubular threads. 



These data explain certain facts relating to 

 the work of the net. The full-grown Banded 

 and Silky Epeirae weave at very early hours, 

 long before dawn. Should the air turn misty, 

 they sometimes leave that part of the task 

 unfinished : they build the general framework, 

 they lay the spokes, they even draw the auxili- 

 ary spiral, for all these parts are unaffected by 

 excess of moisture; but they are very careful 

 not to work at the lime-threads, which, if 

 soaked by the fog, would dissolve into sticky 

 shreds and lose their efficacy by being wetted. 

 The net that was started will be finished to- 

 morrow, if the atmosphere be favourable. 



While the highly-absorbent character of the 

 snaring-thread has its drawbacks, it also has 

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