36 



jets from the spinnarets on the lower part of the abdomen; 

 solidifying' on contract with the air, if atmospheric condi- 

 tions are right these fine threads will float upward. As 

 the silk strands lengthen we can see that the spider is 

 grip] ling the support for all he is worth to counteract the 

 lifting effect of his filmy lialloon. M'hrn the threads have 

 attained a length of from six to twenty feet if he tliinks 

 the ]iull is sufficient, the little aeronaut s]irings u]iward. 



BALLOOXtXG SPIDERS 



grasps a cord with each foot and goes sailing upward and 

 away on the breeze. Often the silk thread does not prove 

 sufliciently buoyant in which case it will be cast adrift and 

 a new one started. These cast-aside cords may often be 

 seen caught on buslies or floating in the air. 



