350 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



6. Without going into the particulars of what 

 agrees or disagrees in the above experiments with our 

 own observations, we shall give a brief account of 

 what we have actually seen in our researches.* So 

 far as we have determined, then, all the various 

 species of spiders, how different soever the form of 

 their webs may be, proceed in the circumstance of 

 shooting their lines precisely alike; but those which 

 we have found the most manageable in experiment- 

 ing, are the small gossamer spider i^Jlranea obfectrixy 

 Bechstein), known by its shining blackish-brown 

 body and reddish brown semi-transparent legs; but 

 particularly the long -bodied spider ( Telragnatha 

 extensa, Latr.), which varies in colour from green, 

 to brownish or grey — but has always a black line 

 along the belly, with a silvery white or yellowish one 

 on each side. The latter is chiefly recommended by 

 being a very industrious and persevering spinner, 

 while its movements are easily seen, from the long 

 cylindrical form of its body and the length of its 

 legs. 



We placed the above two species with five or six 

 others, including the garden, the domestic, and the 

 labyrinthic spiders, in empty wine-glasses set in tea- 

 saucers filled with water to prevent their escape. 

 When they discovered, by repeated descents from 

 the brims of the glasses that they were thus sur- 

 rounded by a wet ditch, they all set themselves to the 

 task of throwing their silken bridges across. For 

 this purpose they first endeavoured to ascertain in 

 what direction the wind blew, or rather (as the ex- 

 periment was made in our study) which way any 

 current of air set, — by elevating their arms as we 

 have seen sailors do in a dead calm. But, as it may 

 prove more interesting to keep to one individual^ we 



* J. R. 



