380 



AMKKICAN SPIDEKS AND THEIK SPINNIN(JWOKK. 



Canni- 

 balism 



0-^^ 



insectivorous habits embrace the aranead nations also in their menu. Mon- 

 keys eat them; Hentz discovered a rat eating Oxyopes viridans;' and we 

 have an account, which may pass for what it is worth, of even sheep 

 upon tlie Steppes of Russia devouring certain ground spiders. ^ 



Many spiders while yet immature fall victims to the voracity of their 

 own species. I have elsewhere considered the charge of cannibalism as 

 lodged against spiderlings while yet within the cocoon, show- 

 ing that as a rule their cradle life and earliest babyhood are 

 largely exempt from the perils of internecine hunger. But when 

 once the solitary habit of the race has compelled the individuals to sep- 

 arate and dwell apart. Nature relaxes her restraining influence and hunger 

 converts all available objects into legitimate prey. After this period it is 

 not possible to defend our aranead friends against the charge of canni- 

 balism, even of the most revolting 

 kind. Brothers and sisters eat each 

 other up without hesitation, and sincfe, 

 naturally, fellow broodlings are likely 

 to pitch their tents and spin their 

 snares in closest contiguity, it comes 

 to pass that many of every brood are 

 devoted as sacrifices to the growth 

 and development of the few surviv- 

 ors to whom Nature has committed 

 the perpetuity of the species. Out- 

 side of these limits, everywhere, spi- 

 ders will prey upon their kind as 

 oi)i)ortunity allows, even the hours 

 allotted to courtship and amatory em- 

 brace not being wholly exempt from 

 the ])erils of this general tendency. 



II. 



Perliajjs the mo.st persistent and 

 destructive natural enemies of spiders 

 are certain hymenoptcrous in.secls be- 

 longing to the lai'ge family of wasjjs 

 known popularly as mud daubers and diggers. 



It has often been remarked by ordinary observers that wasps can visit 

 a sjjider's web not only with impunity, but as a successful assailant of 

 the occupant thereof. This fact has crept into literature, and is embalmed 

 by Goethe in a striking allusion to his father. "Willingly," he writes in 

 his autobiography, " as I have made myself familiar with all sorts of 



Fiu. 3ii. A wasp plucking au Orbweaver from 

 its snare. 



' Spiders of the U. 8., page 4(). 



Walckenaer, Apt, Vol. I., page 172. 



