THE SPIDER. 107 



threads. This spider climbs to the top of some pile of 

 boards or of brick, on which the sun has been shining 

 until a current of hot air is arising from it, elevates its 

 spinnerets, and starts a thread, which is caught up by 

 the rising current of air, and drawn out to a length suffi- 

 cient, by its buoyancy, to support the weight of the spider. 

 The spider then lets go of earth, and sails away. 



4. Of webs, and especially of those in which the spiders 

 spend most of their time, the shape, position, location, 

 and construction should be noted. A pair of spiders will 

 often be found on different parts of one web. The male is 

 usually much smaller than the female. Of flat webs not 

 placed vertically, it should be observed whether the spider 

 walks on the upper, or on the lower, side of the web. It 

 should be noted that the webs which show the greatest 

 skill in their construction are made of the fewest threads. 



5. That the web is a snare for capturing prey, must 

 not be forgotten. Note the position of the spider on its 

 web while waiting for its prey. Throw a small grass- 

 hopper nymph against the web, and watch the spider's 

 method of securing its prey. Examine such insects as 

 you find entangled in webs, and note whether they are 

 dead or alive. Note the kinds of insects you find snared 

 by spiders. 



6. Examine such old and tattered webs as you find 

 clinging to fences, and to rafters in attics, for the exuviae 

 of young spiders. These skins will show the close resem- 

 blance in form of young and adult. 



7. The eggs of most spiders are inclosed in a round 

 silken capsule which is hidden beneath the bark of posts 

 and logs, or buried among rubbish, or, in a few species, 

 carried about by the mother attached to her spinnerets. 

 It is often a third of an inch in diameter, and of a gray- 

 ish or dirty yellowish color. Within it the young ones 

 are hatched, and live for a time by eating one another. 



