546 THE WANDERING SPIDER. 



object, are by their natural clamminess, fixed to it. As soon as tho 

 Spider finds that these are fastened, she makes of them a bridge, on 

 which she can pass and repass at pleasure. 

 This done, she renders the thread thicker, by 

 spinning others to it. From this thread she 

 often descends, by spinning downward to 

 the ground. The thread formed by the latter 

 operation she fixes to some stone, plant, or 

 other substance. She reascends to the first 

 thread, and at a little distance from the second 

 begins a third, which she fixes in a similar 

 manner. She now strengthens all the three 

 threads, and, beginning at one of the corners, 

 weaves across, and at last forms a strong 

 and durable net, in the centre of which she 

 places herself, with her head downward, to wait for her prey. 



From its having been frequently remarked that Spiders spread 

 their webs in solitary and confined places, to which it is sometimes 

 difficult for flies to penetrate, M. de Vaillant concluded that these 

 creatures must often remain long without food, and that, conse- 

 quently, they were capable of enduring considerable abstinence. 

 To ascertain the truth of this circumstance, be took a large Garden- 

 spider, whose belly was about the size of a nut, enclosed it under a 

 glass bell, which he secured with cement round its bottom, and left it 

 in this situation ten months. Notwithstanding this deprivation of 

 food, the insect appeared during the whole time equally vigorous and 

 alert; but its belly decreased, till at last it was scarcely larger than 

 the head of a pin He then put under the bell to it another Spider 

 of the same species. For a little while they kept at a respectful dis- 

 tance from each other, and remained motionless; but presently the 

 meagre one, pressed by hunger, approached and attacked the stranger. 

 It returned several times to the charge ; and, in these diiVerent conflicts, 

 deprived the stranger of almost all its claws: these it carried away to 

 its former situation, to devour. The meagre Spider had likewise lost 

 three of its own claws, on which also it fed, and M. Le Yaillant per- 

 ceived that, by this repast, its plumpness was in some degree restored. 

 On the following day, the new comer, deprived of all its means of 

 defence, fell a complete sacrifice. It was speedily devoured ; and in 

 less than twenty-four hours, the old inhabitant of the bell became as 

 plump as it was at the first moment of its confinement. 



THE WANDEBIXG SPIDKB. 



The color of the Wandering Spider is reddish brown, darker on the 

 thorax than the abdomen. This part has, on each side, towards the 

 top, a blackish line, or a brown spot. The two anterior legs, which 

 are long, have blackish rings. The four hind legs are very short. 



The Wandering Spider, which is very common on plants, does not 



