46 



ETON NATURE-STUDY 



that the air does not become stale. In this cage the spider will spin 

 its web and flourish, if sufficient food is given to it. The advantage 

 of such a cage is that the animal can be placed just where it may be 



wanted. Often the spiders even 

 when kept in captivity (it is the 

 females only which spin webs) 

 will lay their eggs and wrap 

 them in a silken case. It is 

 possible that no glass after a 

 time need be placed over the 

 box, but this would be a matter 

 for experiment. 



- . I - Equally, if not more interest- 



ing, are the garden spiders, 

 which spin large wheel-like webs 

 (see figures 43 and 45). The 

 accounts given by different ob- 

 servers as to the manner in 

 are constructed vary somewhat,* and there 

 of adding to knowledge in this respect 

 obtaining useful practice in making detailed 



From a p/totu ijruph by \Villiaiii Farrtit. 



FIGURE 45. The Garden Spider. 



snares 



which these 



an opportunity 



of 



is 



as well as 



observations. 



Although gossamer spinners are familiar enough in autumn, very 

 little seems to have been recorded about them. The Rev. 0. Pickard- 

 Cambridge, F.R.S., tells us that myriads of small spiders, some 

 old, some young, not belonging necessarily to any one species, 

 produce the gossamer. Another of the few naturalists who have 

 devoted themselves to the subject of spiders, to wit Mr Frank Percy 



* See "Through a Pocket Lens." By Henry Sherren, F.Z.S. The Religious Tract 

 Society's Publications. Price, 2s. 6d. Page 100. 



