ANIMAL LIFE AND THE MICROSCOPE 



web of the garden spider, has feet of a different 

 pattern. The most interesting feature about the 

 legs of this creature is the wonderful double comb 

 with which it teases out the threads of its 

 web as they are formed. This comb takes the 

 form of a double row of minute, curved spines 

 on the last joint but one of the hind legs; it must i 

 certainly be examined under our microscope and j 

 we should try to see the combs being used by th^ [ 

 spider. j 



We must also make a point of examining the feet [ 

 of a wolf spider for they are constructed on a j 

 different plan to those of the spiders we have men- l 

 tioned. Wolf spiders are the creatures which spin ft 

 no proper web but lurk in holes in walls or in the 

 ground and dash out from their hiding places to 

 seize their prey. They usually line their lairs with 

 silk. We shall have more to say about wolf spiders 

 in a moment. 



The Zebra spider, which belongs to the family of 

 jumping spiders, has very curious feet, not so much 

 on account of its claws as because of the curious 

 clubbed hairs which adorn them. This little spidei 

 is black, with white stripes on body and legs; the 

 remarkable hairs on its feet render it exceedinglji 

 sure-footed and it has need to be, for it exhibit}! 

 the peculiar habit, for a spider, of leaping upon it: 

 prey. 



There are many other spiders which we ma^| 

 examine with the certainty of finding some feature! 

 of interest, the Drassid spiders which lurk beneatlj 



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