178 STRANGE DWELLINGS, 



lines are smooth and not very elastic, whereas the spiral line is 

 thickly studded with minute knobs, and is elastic to a wonderful 

 degree, reminding the observer of a thread of India-rubber. 

 So elastic, indeed, is this Une, that many observers have 

 thought that the spider has the power of retracting them within 

 the spinnerets, inasmuch as she often will draw a thread out to 

 a considerable length, and then, when she approaches the 

 point to which it will be attached, it seems to re-enter the 

 spinneret until it is shortened to the required length. This, 

 however, is only an optical delusion, and caused by the great 

 elasticity of the thread, which can accommodate itself to the 

 space which it is required to cross. 



One very remarkable point in the construction of these webs, 

 so exactly true in all their proportions, is that they are executed 

 entirely by the sense of touch. The eyes are situated on the 

 front of the body and on the upper surface, whereas the 

 spinnerets are placed at the very extremity of the body and on 

 the under surface, the threads being always guided by one of 

 the hind legs, as may be seen by watching a garden spider in 

 the act of building or repairing her web. In order that the 

 fact should be placed beyond a doubt, spiders have been con- 

 fined in total darkness, and yet have spun webs which were as 

 true and as perfect as those which are made in daylight. 



A PECULIARLY bcautiful pensile cocoon is constructed by a 

 common British spider, scientifically temied Agelena brunnea, 

 but which has no popular name. 



The species whose beautiful nest will now be described is 

 generally to be found upon commons, especially where gorse is 

 abundant, as it generally hangs its nest to the prickly leaves of 

 that shrub. The cocoon is shaped rather like a wine glass, 

 and is always hung with the mouth downwards, being fastened 

 by the stalk to a leaf or twig of the gorse. It is very small, 

 only measuring a quarter of an inch in diameter, and when it is 

 first made, is of the purest white, so as to be plainly visible 

 among the leaves. 



This purity, however, it retains but a very short time, for 

 after the spider has deposited her eggs, which are quite 



