ae Or 



















480 THE HABITS OF SPIDERS. 
Her usual position is head downward, with each foot on one 
of the radii of the web, and the spinners ready to fasten 
themselves by a thread at the least alarm. She often m- — 
mains in her hole with one foot out, and resting on a tight — 
thread connected with the centre of the web, so that any 
vibration is quickly detected. If the web be gently touched | 
the spider will rush into the centre, and face towards the dis- 
turbed part. She will then jerk smartly several of the radii- 
leading in that direction, to see if the intruder is a living 
animal. If this test is followed by the expected struggle sbe 
runs out towards the victim, stepping as little as possible 
on the adhesive threads, seizes it in her jaws, and as 5008 
as it begins to feel the effects of the bite, envelops it ia 
a silken covering, and hangs it up to suck at her leisure. — 
In spinning this envelope the insect is held and turned 
around mainly by the short third pair of feet, while a fst 
band of threads is drawn from the spinners by the hind pet 
working alternately like the hands in pulling a rope, and 4 
wound over it in every direction, so that in a few : 
it is so covered as to be unable to move a limb. Whens 
web is shaken by the wind, the spider will sometimes draw 
in all her feet toward her body, thereby tightening the web 
in every direction so that the vibration is prevented. 
The construction of nets for catching food is not the only 
use of the thread made by these spiders. They seldom movè 
from place to place without spinning a line after them **- 
they go. They are able by its use to drop safely from any . 
height, and when suspended by it are carried by the 
across wide spaces without any exertion on their part, ex- - 
cept to let out the thread. The crevices in which they pe“ 
the winter, and the leisure hours of summer, are k 
and enclosed by a coating of silk resembling that <— a 
confining captured insects. The eggs are e 
cocoon of the same material, and there the youvg Í 
until they are strong enough to shift for themselves, growing 
to nearly double their size without apparent nourishment- 

