THE anxACHNIDA., 305 
TAT WCB 
a 
2) 
Mf 
Fig. 238.—Nest of a Mason Spider. 
C the Spider, D the eyes magnified, and E and F parts 
of the foot and claw magnified. 
518. There is a Spider common in the woods that 
weaves together a great many leaves for a dwelling, and 
in front of this spreads its snares to catch its prey. When 
winter approaches it leaves its eggs in this nest to be 
hatched the following spring, and itself retires to some 
hollow tree to die. 
519. An English clergyman, Mr. Shepherd, has often 
seen in the fen ditches of Norfolk a very large Spider 
that makes a raft by fastening weeds together with silk- 
en threads, and sails forth on this in search of insects that 
may chance to get into the water. But the most inter- 
esting water-spider is one that makes for itself a silken 
diving-bell, which looks in the water like a little silver 
globe. This is sometimes partly above the surface of the 
water, but at others it is fastened by silken ropes to ob- 
jects below. The Spider contrives in some way to carry 
