PULMONARIA. 299 



orifices, from which issue at will threads of incon- 

 ceivable slenderness, of a glutinous substance, but har- 

 dening instantly into a strong silk. This, as is well 

 known, is woven by means of the hind feet, into nets 

 of very varying texture, to entrap flying insects, into 

 tapestry for their habitations, lines for their support, 

 and cocoons for their eggs. Spiders have also the 

 power of shooting forth a cluster of threads to the 

 distance of several feet, which are wafted by the 

 wind until they come in contact with some object, 

 and form a bridge across the interval. We have this in- 

 stant been amused by seeing a common Garden Spider 

 (Epeira Diadema) use this mode of escape from a bit 

 of stick set upright in a pan of water. It is supposed 

 that some species dart out their web into the air in 

 sufficient quantity to float them in the manner of a 

 balloon : certainly they ascend without wings to a 

 great elevation : and the air is sometimes filled with 

 their webs, called gossamer. 



Spiders, in all stages of their existence, are most 

 eminently carnivorous, preying upon each other at 

 every opportunity, and even the female devouring 

 her mate with the most savage ferocity ; a sight 

 which, Reaumur says, filled him with horror. 



A wound from a Spider will kill a Fly in a few 

 minutes ; we have already referred to an instance in 

 which a West Indian Lizard (Anolis) died of the bite 

 of our common Garden Spider;* it has even been 

 stated that a large American species, hence called the 

 Bird Spider (Mygale Avicularia), preys habitually on 



* See page 35. 



