SPIDERS 43 



lines, destined to catch insects, are fixed. A third kind of silk 

 is used to smother and enfold the captive victim, and yet an- 

 other for the walls of the egg-cocoon. The abdomen of this 

 spider varies in colour from pale sandy yellow to dark brownish 

 black ; down the middle of the dorsal surface runs a chain of 

 creamy white spots of varying shape, the anterior part of this 

 line is cut at right angles by another series of similar spots, so 

 that a distinct white cross is formed ; farther back there may be 

 two other fainter transverse white lines. All three cross-lines are 

 liable to much variation. The female is nearly half an inch long ; 

 the male smaller. 



Web of E. diademata. The first step in the construction of 

 the web is to lay a cord roughly horizontal between two relatively 

 firm points, or sometimes the spider accomplishes this by fixing 

 one end of the thread, which is composed of many strands, and 

 then descending to the ground and mounting to the second point 

 selected for attachment, and then hauling in the slack before 

 fastening the free end. At other times the spider spins out into 

 the air a long cord, which is wafted and as it were drawn out 

 by the wind until it touches and adheres to some neighbouring 

 object. A few sharp tugs by one of the legs assures the spider 

 of the security of the far end, the slack is hauled in, and the 

 other end fastened down. From this first line a roughly four- 

 sided framework is suspended, within which the wheel-web is 

 to be placed ; the side lines are frequently furnished with " stays " 

 attached to the top and bottom lines, or to external objects. 

 The framework ready, the spider goes to the middle of the part 

 of the top horizontal side included in 

 the frame, attaches a thread to it with 

 the spinnerets, drops perpendicularly 

 to the lower horizontal line, paying 

 out across the space a thread, whose 

 lower end is at once fastened, and so 

 connects the top and bottom lines. * '7-Foot of spider. 



A return journey up the new thread is now made ; at its centre 

 a fresh thread is attached and spun out as the spider runs on 

 up to the top. One of the hind-legs is used to steady the newest 

 thread and prevent it from adhering to that on which the spider 



