254 CURIOUS HOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



prey, but for lining nests, egg cocoons, bridges — the 

 first suspension bridge in the world was built by a 

 spider — and, most curious of all, for flying machines. 

 Yes, in this, at least; spiders are ahead of mankind ; 

 they can fly without the aid of wings or of gas or 

 heated air. 



Mr. Packard says : " Small spiders, especially in 

 fine days in autumn, get on the tops of bushes and 

 fences, each apparently anxious to climb as high as pos- 

 sible, and then raise themselves up on tiptoe and turn 

 their bodies up, with their heads toward the wind and 

 spinnerets open. A thread soon blows out from the 

 spinnerets, and, if the current of air continues, spins 

 out to a length of two or three yards, and then offers 

 enough resistance to the wind to carry the spider 

 away with it into the air. As soon as she is clear 

 the spider turns around and grasps the thread with 

 her feet, and seems to be very contented and comfort- 

 able. 



" Sometimes they rise rapidly and are soon out of 

 sight, and at other times blow along just above the 

 ground." 



The silk spun by spiders is much superior to that 

 of silkworms, stronger, firmer, and more elastic, and 

 many attempts have been made to use it ; !)nt although 

 gloves and other articles of wearing apparel have been 

 made of spiders' silk, the difiiculty of keeping the 

 spiders together in sufficient numbers (each spider has 

 to be separated from the rest, for they fight and de- 

 vour each other), and the immense labor in\-olved in 

 keeping them supplied with flies or other insects for 



