STRENGTH OF WEBS AND POWER OF SPIDERS. 235 
The assertion must be taken with much allowance, that nets of geometric 
spiders are renewed wholly, or at least their concentric circles are replaced 
every twenty-four hours, even when not apparently injured.1’ In 
oc pean point of fact the renewal does not take place unless made neces- 
rbweb. : E et 
sary by the destruction or serious injury of the old snare. The 
reason assigned for this behavior by the same authors, viz. that the 
spirals rapidly lose their viscid properties by the action of the air, is 
not founded on fact, as is elsewhere shown.? The viscid beads retain 
their adhesive qualities under ordinary circumstances for a considerable 
time. It is doubtful if any orb becomes thus disabled in so short a period 
as that assigned—twenty-four hours—except when exposed to rain. 
II. 
At various times there have been placed on record accounts of the cap- 
ture by spiders of small vertebrate animals, as snakes, mice, and birds. 
Popular stories to the same effect have from time to time been 
Physical sent the rounds of the daily press, and found utterance and often 
Power of . : j fo 
Spiders illustration, the latter sometimes of a most original and remark- 
able character, in popular magazine literature. The great seem- 
ing disparity in such cases between the size and vigor of captive and pris- 
oner; the confusion of the various narratives in details as to the spe- 
cies and behavior of the spider, and the characteristics of her snare; the 
radical departure from known food habit of species that are insectivorous; 
together with the fact that the accounts all have come from lay observers, 
have been more or less lacking in scientific accuracy and minuteness of detail, 
and wholly without scientific verification—these considerations have caused 
such records and reports to be discredited by arachnologists and naturalists 
generally. But there are a few cases, confirmed by circumstantial evidence, 
and reported by observers of good reputation and careful habit, which de- 
serve notice. 
The physical powers of the Lycoside, the popular running, ground, or 
wolf spiders, is well illustrated by an instance recorded in the Proceedings of 
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.? The result as reported 
was achieved by pure strength and activity, without any of the mechanical 
advantages of a snare. Mr. Spring, while walking with a friend in a swampy 
wood, which was pierced by a dyke three feet wide, was attracted by the 
extraordinary movements of a large black spider in the middle of the 
ditch. Closer observation showed that the creature had caught a fish! She 
1 Kirby & Spence, Intro. Ento., I., page 419. 2See Chapter V. 
% Proceedings, 1859. The account was presented by Mr. Lesley, from notes furnished by 
Mr. Edward A. Spring, of Eagleswood, New Jersey. It was confirmed by a personal interview 
with Prof. Spring, at Chautauqua in the summer of 1885, who repeated to me the details of 
the incident. 
