
THE HABITS OF SPIDERS. 479 © 
bottom. Radiating lines (Pl. 11, fig. 1, b, b,b) are then 
spun from the centre in all directions. In doing this the 
spider often crosses from one side of the web to the oppo- 
site, so that the finished portion is always tightly drawn, and 
the tension of the completed web is the same in every part. 
Having finished the framework, the spider begins near the 
centre and spins a thread (Fig 1, ¢, ¢,¢), spirally, around 
the web to the circumference, fastening it to each radius as 
it crosses. The distance between the spirals varies with the 
size of the spiders, being about as far as they can reach. This 
spiral thread serves to keep the parts of the web in place 
during the rest of the process, and is removed as fast as the 
Web is finished. It also furnishes a ready means of crossing 
from one radius to another where they are farthest apart. All 
the thread spun up to this stage of the process is smooth when 
dry, and will not adhere if touched with a smooth object. 
The spider having thus formed the web, begins to put 
in the final circles at the outside, walking around on the 
scaffolding previously prepared, which she gradually de- 
Stroys as she proceeds, until in the finished web only a few 
turns in the centre are left. The thread of the circles last 
spun is covered with viscid globules, strung upon it like 
beads at short distances. If an insect comes in contact with 
the thread, it immediately adheres, and its struggles only 
bring a larger part of its body into contact with the web. 
Dust and seeds also stick to the web, so that in a single day 
It is often so clogged as to be of no farther use. The web 
also becomes torn by the struggles of the prey, and by wind 
and rain, so that it requires repair or renewal every night. In 
mending a web the spider usually removes all except the out- 
side threads, biting them off and rolling them into a hard ball 
tween her jaws, so that when released it will drop quickly 
to the ground. This probably gave rise to the opinion, 
Sometimes advanced, that the old web is eaten by the spider. 
When the web is finished she stations herself in the cen- 
tre, where a small circle is left free of the adhesive threads. 

