70 The Structure and Habits of Spiders. 



The size of the web is usually proportioned 

 to that of the spider ; but Epcira displicata, 

 which is quarter of an inch long, makes a web 

 only two or three inches in diameter, on the 

 ends of branches of bushes, where it is shaken 

 about, and sometimes blown to pieces, by the 

 wind. 



As the spider stands in her web, and feels a 

 slight shake, such as would be caused by a sud- 

 den wind, she draws her legs together, pulling 

 the rays tighter, and so making the whole web 

 steady. If, however, the spider is frightened, 

 and has no time to escape, she throws her body 

 back and forth as a man does in a swing, and 

 thus shakes the web so rapidly, that the spider 

 can hardly be seen. The most usual habit, 

 when alarmed, is to drop to the ground, and lie 

 there as if dead. 



USE OF SPIDER'S SILK. 



Various attempts have been made to use the 

 silk of spiders, and chiefly that of the large 

 round-web spiders, for practical purposes, either 

 by carding the cocoons, or by drawing the 

 thread directly from the spider. The latest 



