SPIDERS AND COBWEBS. 257 



Upon this framework, beginning at' the center, the 

 spider spins a spiral hne ; the meshes of the net it 

 makes by crossing the radiating, foundation Unes, be- 

 ing as far apart as she can reach. Plaving carried 

 this outward as far as she purposes to have her web 

 extend, the spider commences another between the 

 turns of that first constructed, and of an entirely dif- 

 ferent character, which she carries from the outside to 

 the center of the web. 



The first threads spun are dry and smooth, but 

 this last is covered with a sticky fluid to which every- 

 thing that touches it adheres. Upon these last lines 

 she is careful not to step, but generally has a thread 

 extending from the outside, where she sometimes re- 

 mains, to the center of her web, always having one 

 foot on the line, which vibrates when anything strikes 

 the net and telegraphs to her the fact that pvey is 

 captured. 



When this occurs the spider runs to the center of 

 the web, where all the rays meet, touches each in 

 turn to see where the insect is, and, having ascer- 

 tained this, hastens out and seizes it. 



Such webs as the one described require constant 

 repairs ; dust and rubbish collect and adhere to the 

 sticky threads, and in time portions of the net be- 

 come dirty, tangled, and useless. When the spider 

 ascertains this to be the fact she takes out the defect- 

 ive parts and replaces them with new ones, often 

 taking down a whole web and placing a freshly spun 

 net in its place. 



The strangest part of this proceeding is, that as 



