6 PREFACE. 
To be sure, in some respects the Orbweavers and Lineweavers are more 
approachable than other tribes of spiders; for, as they are sedentary crea- 
tures, and are found continuously upon their webs, one often has the oppor- 
tunity to observe them with comparative freedom and comfort. But this 
is only true of the commoner species, and of that part of their life which 
concerns the structure of snares and trapping of food. In other, and even 
more interesting fields, these sedentary spiders, like all the wandering groups, 
persistently conceal their manners. 
When it is considered that most of the facts presented in my books 
consecutively, as a connected history, have been collected under such diffi- 
culties, and at widely separated periods and places, it is not strange that 
some gaps in the life record may be found. But, if in some parts the 
connecting links are lacking, and the story is incomplete, it is no more 
than ordinarily befalls other naturalists when investigating the habits 
of other animals. While, therefore, no one can regret more than I the 
blanks which here and there occur in the pages of that wonderful his- 
tory of industrial life and art which I have attempted to unfold, I ven- 
ture to urge the above reasons for indulgence towards any failures which 
may appear. 
The general plan of my work, as it will be given to the public, may 
briefly be stated as follows: The first volume is chiefly taken up with de- 
scriptions of those parts of aranead spinningwork which are gen- 
General rally known as the web or snare, and the nest or den. The 
Plan of é Saas 
the Work /ormer concerns the nurture of the spider, as the snare is its 
manufactured tool for capturing insects. The latter concerns the 
protection of the animal from changes of weather and assaults of enemies. 
In my studies of the snares of Orbweavers, I have tried to obtain the full- 
est possible details of the spinning methods of every species; to mark the 
striking differences which exist among the various groups; and to associate 
these, as far as my knowledge would permit, with the general habits of 
the various families. Furthermore, I have brought to bear upon 
these, in a comparative way, the spinningwork and habits of 
other tribes, so that the reader may be able to trace resemblances 
and differences, and to perceive what relations, if any, exist between the 
general life habits of all spiders. 
The consideration of these topics has necessarily suggested the degree 
of intelligence and the variety and adaptation of methods shown by spi- 
ders in their ordinary and special behavior. Thus have come into view 
the profound and interesting problems relating to animal mentalism. 
Finally, I have endeavored, in the closing chapters, to present a bird’s 
eye view of the entire field of industrial life treated of in the volume, 
with special bearing upon a common origin, whether from the one stand- 
point of a single originating Mind, or from the other standpoint of a 
genetic evolution from common ancestral actions and tendencies. 
Plan of 
Volume I. 
