GENERAL COCOONINO HABITS OF SPIDERS. 125 



Coelotes saxatilis makes a cocoon half an inch in diameter, containing 



yellowish white eggs. Tiie external case is partly plastered with 



Coelotes earth. (Fig. 137.) Textrix lycosina has the same habit of pro- 



*" , . tccting her cocoon, which is usually woven to the under side of 



a stone near her tubular liiding place. It is white, flattened, 



and about one-fourth inch in diameter.' 



According to the Swedish naturalist Clerck^ the eggs of the Water spider, 

 Argyroneta aquatica, are round, of a saffron yellow color, contained within 

 a globular silken cocoon, which occupies about one-fourth of the 

 rgyro- g^ijaqueous maternal cell. (Fig. 138.) The female remains con- 

 aquatica. stantly near it, keeping her abdomen in the interior of her hab- 

 itation, and the fore part of lier body in the water. The figures 

 of this cocoon (Figs. 139 and 140) are from Blackwall," and represent a 

 hemispherical or disk like object resembling cocoons made by many terres- 

 trial Tubeweavers, esiDCcially the Clubionidte. Argyroneta's cocoon presents 

 the appearance of having been woven against a flat, solid surface, or per- 

 haps the silken walls of the cell. Other naturalists represent it as being 

 swung like a liammock across tlie cell, somewhat in the fashion of the 

 cocoons of various Tunnelweavers hereafter described. 



Blackwall's description of the cocoon, its site, and preservation is as fol- 

 lows : Argyroneta aquatica habitually passes the greater part of its life in 

 the water, not only pursuing its prey in that liquid, but constructing be- 

 neath its surface a drum shai^ed cell in which is placed its cocoon of wliite 

 silk of a comi)act texture and lenticular form, containing from eighty to 

 one hundred eggs of a yellow color, not agglutinated together. This is well 

 supported in a vertical position, the open part being directed downwards 

 by lines of silk connecting it with aquatic plants, and as it comprises a 

 considerable quantity of atmospheric air, the spider can at all times occupy 

 it without experiencing the least inconvenience. In swimming and diving 

 Argyroneta assumes an inverted position, and is more or less enveloped in 

 air confined by the circumambient water among the hairs with which it 

 is clothed. The supply is always more abundant on the under than on 

 the upper part, in consequence of the greater length and density of the 

 liairs distributed over its surface. 



Passing into the large and varied family of Drassids, we find a sub- 

 stantial uniformity in the general shape and structure of their cocoons. 

 These are usually lenticular or button shaped (piano convex) ob- 

 iiamuy jg^.|.g ^yovcn against some solid surface in the vicinity of the 

 soidae tubular nest or ordinary haunts of the species. The covering is 

 a close textured silk, as stiff as parchment. The circular piece 

 attached to the surface is of similar composition, and the eggs are 



' Blackwall, Spid. Gt. B. & I., pi. xii., Fig. 109. 'Aran. Svecici., page 149. 



» 8p. Gt. B. & I., pi. viii., Figs. 87 g, h. 



