594 THE GOSSAMER SPIDER. 
of the now double line, to a twig of the other tree. This done, it 
runs back and forth on it, spinning a thread every trip until the 
line is ten or fifteen ply. 
It now places itself on another twig of the windward tree, a 
nearly under the first line as possible and six or eight feet below, 
lets go another thread. As soon as it feels it has caught on the 
opposite tree it fastens down the home end, and hastens to reenact 
all we saw it perform on the first line. It seems to be much elated 
and encouraged by its successes, and, now hurriedly, is seen climb- 
ing up the first tree, and very soon is engaged at work as near the 
middle of the upper line, as could have been obtained by actual 
measurement. Soon it is observed’ descending spinning out a 
thread as it goes, it being safely fastened to the upper line ” 
swings down until it is somewhat below the lower line; but 
finds that the thread it hangs on, is half a yard or more to on 
side of its lower line. It now, after a moment’s reflection, at 
tempts to swing, pendulum-like, at the end of its thread to al 
from the lower line. The spider soon ascertained that success did 
not lie in that experiment; and wound up the thread it was hang- 
ing on until it regained its position on the middle of the ~*~ 
line. It was very nearly calm, and it rapidly spun out 4 long 
thread, which, light as was the breeze, passed above peg 
brace line. It was however continuously extended until it i sie 
amongst the brush some distance away. The ingemlous of it 
workman continued to spin out the thread, until the slack i 
bending down came in contact and adhered to the lower is 
Feeling the entanglement, it immediately ran down, ont and se 
loose the surplus end of the thread, carried the end in a 
the line aboves 
wer brace, 3t- 
thence along 
it fast. Then passing on the upper brace to 4 point 
beyond the middle dropped line, made a thread fast wee” right 
d ed the middle line, carrying the thread to 4 pee? d 
angles with its attachment above, and giving it the prop% ieh og 
made it fast. And now, laying three or four threads 0n 
these three stay lines, the balance of the work, though 1" 
was easily accomplished. 
