ON ARACHXIDA. 449 



gluten. The epeira draws it to itself from time to time, to 

 ascertain if it be attached. When it is assured of this by the 

 resistance which it experiences, it binds and fastens the 

 thread to the place where it is itself: the first thread serves as a" 

 point of communication for placing the others. The spider 

 imparts to it more solidity. Afterwards, it spins others, per- 

 pendicular and oblique, which it attaches to different branches, 

 and the ends of which all repair to a common centre. When 

 this labour is finished, it spins others, which it fastens above. 

 They are apart from each other, and it places them circularly 

 round the centre. The web being finished, the epeira con- 

 structs at one of the upper extremities, between two approxi- 

 mating leaves, a little lodge, which serves it as a retreat. It 

 usually remains there all day, and does not issue forth but in 

 the morning and evening. It chooses the top of its web for 

 a sheltering place, because insects ascend better than they 

 descend. 



We have now exhibited the most general and interesting 

 points in the economy of the sedentary araneides. Those 

 which M. Latreillehas designated under the name oiwandei'- 

 ing araneides, seize their prey by running or leaping upon it. 



These animals being carnivorous, and devouring each other 

 when they meet, the sexual intercourse does not take place 

 without great precautions on the part of the male, who is 

 obliged to make the advances. The coupling which has been 

 most observed by naturalists is that of the Epeira diadema, so 

 common in gardens, towards the commencement of autumn, 

 which is the season of its am.ours. The female remains tran- 

 quil in the midst of its web, the head down, and the belly 

 upwards. The male rambles around the web, and finally 

 ventures to mount upwards; but he takes care first to attach 

 a thread to some place, at no great distance, so that he may 

 make use of it to save himself if the female should not be dis- 

 posed to grant him a favourable reception. As soon as he has 



VOL. XIII. G g 



