674 WEB OF THE EPEIRA. 



the best typical example of all the Arachnidae. It is found in great numbers in our 

 gardens, stretching its beautiful webs perpendicularly from branch to branch, and 

 remaining in the centre with its head downwards, waiting for its prey. This attitude 

 is tolerably universal among spiders ; and it is rather curious that the Arachnidae should 

 reverse the usual order of things, and assume an inverted position when they desire to 

 repose. 



The web of this spider is composed of two different kinds of threads, the radiating and 

 supporting threads being strong and of simple texture. But the fine spiral thread which 

 divides the web into a series of steps, decreasing in breadth towards the centre, is 

 studded with a vast amount of little globules, which give to the web its peculiar adhe- 

 siveness. These globules are too small to be perceptible to the unassisted eye, but 

 by the aid of a microscope they maybe examined without difficulty. In an ordinary 

 web, such as is usually seen in gardens, there will be about eighty-seven thousand of 

 these globules, and yet the web can be completed in less than three-quarters of an 

 hour. The globules are loosely strung upon the lines, and when they are rubbed off, 

 the thread is no longer adhesive. 



Many interesting circumstances can be narrated of this spider, but our space will 

 not permit of more than a brief description. Several species of Epeira are inhabitants 

 of England and have different habits. The following account of an Epeira and its web 

 is given by the Rev. D. Landsborough, in his " Excursions to Arran " : 



" As he was rather a gigantic spider, his tent, instead of being on the ground, was 

 elevated, like the house of a giant of whom in early life we have all read. It was built 

 on the tops of the common grass, Holcirs /anatus, more than a foot above the ground. 

 Had he built his house on the top of one stalk of grass, the house and its inhabitant 

 might have borne down a single slender stalk. But he had contrived to bring together 

 several heads whose roots stood apart, and, with cordage which he could furnish at will, 

 had bound them firmly together, so that his elevated habitation was anchored on all 

 sides. From whatever airt the wind blew it had at once halser and stay. Not only 

 did he bind the heads together, but he bent, doubled, and fastened them down as a 

 thatch roof, under which his habitation was suspended. 



As he was a larger spider than usual, his house was large ; the more capacious 

 apartment, which I believe was the nursery, being below ; and the smaller one, which 

 was his observatory, or watch-tower, being above, from which he could pounce upon his 

 prey, or, in case of hostile attack, could make his escape by a postern gate, so as to 

 conceal himself among the grass. 



During my visit in June last, I was anxious, as we returned from Whiting Bay, to 

 ascertain whether this interesting colony of tent-makers was still in a thriving state, and 

 not seeing any at first, I began to fear that a Highland clearance had taken place. 

 When I at last discovered a few of them, I saw that, as there are times of low trade among 

 our industrious two-footed artisans in towns, so are there occasionally hard times among 

 our six-footed operatives in the country. The field in which they encamped had, I sup- 

 pose, been overstocked. The stately Holcus had been eaten down ; but these shifty 

 children of the mist had availed themselves of the heather, doubling down the tops 

 of some of the heath-sprigs, and under this thatched canopy forming their suspension- 

 tabernacles. As yet, however, it was too early in the season. The house had only one 

 apartment ; the web of which it was formed was as yet thin, so that through 

 it I could see the spider, which, being but half-grown, had not yet got in per- 

 fection its fine tiger like markings. ' Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; ' go also to 

 the spider. He who taught the one taught the other ; and learning humility, let both 

 teach thee." 



IF the reader will refer to the large illustration on page 651, he will see several 

 strange-looking creatures, having their bodies covered with points, knobs, and spines in a 

 most formidable array. These curious spiders inhabit several of the hot parts of the 

 earth, and are remarkable for the extreme hardness of their skin and the brilliancy of 

 their coloring. The skin of these arachnids is as hard and firm as the shelly armor 

 of the crustaceans, and really startling to the touch. There is, however, one spider, the 



