COCOON LIFE AND BAHYHOOD. 239 



of the adult species, both male and female. Between these larger webs, 

 occupying the angles and si)rcad along the window frames, one sees many 

 smaller webs. They occupy the angles where the intersecting frames of 

 the sash cross one another. They are built just underneath the frames. 

 They are stretched from the top of the frame to the surface of the glass, 

 and some of them are woven upon the glass itself. They are small as 

 compared with the webs of the adults, and they are of a bright bluish or 

 lead colored silk, which has not been defiled by dust. 



I counted on this window as many as one hundred and six of these 

 little tents, and in the neighborhood many spiderlings may be found. But 



many more have disappeared. Whither have they gone? Alas, 

 A Camp tiicre can be no doubt that many of them have fallen victims 

 ° }^ of that fratricidal strife which is sure to appear when the young 



of any brood of spiderlings have once set up housekeeping for 

 themselves. Others, doubtless, have gone to satisfy the appetite of their 

 own mothers, who, when once their broodlings have left the maternal care, 

 make no distinction between their own and another mother's offspring, but 

 eat all indiscriminately that fall within their maws, while on still others 

 alien species have preyed. 



The window presents an interesting object as it is thus depicted, and 

 the carefully made photograph, which has assisted the artist's study, accu- 

 rately presents to the reader what may be seen by the student who takes 

 his stand with the author and looks into this window. Elsewhere through- 

 out the cellar the same phenomenon is presented. On another window I 

 counted fifty-three of these youngling snares spread in like positions; but 

 the one here figured is the most interesting object, and presents the largest 

 exhibit I have seen of youthful spider industry intermingled on a natural 

 site with the webs of adults and of other species. 



The Swedish naturalist Clerck saw many little Argyronetas swimming 



in the month of July,' which indicates that they are hatched 



oung about that time,, and appeared greatly to enjoy themselves in 



Spiders, sporting through the element which forms the environment of 



their home. The instinct of swimming is as fully developed in 

 these little ones at the very outset of life as in their parents. 



According to De Lignac,'^ when the mothers of Argyroneta aquatica are 

 about to oviposit they construct a new silken bell or renew that which 



they have already made. The eggs are enclosed therein, and 



„ when hatched one may see issuing from the beautiful balloon, 



cursions. '^^'I'icli is shining white, a prodigious quantity of little bubbles, 



brilliant as quicksilver, which swim about in different ways ! 

 These are the young water spiders. One female, observed and reported by 

 this author made her cocoon on the 15th of April, and on the 3d of 



Anin. Svocioi, piifios 149, 150. ^ Oj). cit., iiage 53. 



