2o6 Kew : Snares or Snap-nets of Triangle Spiders. 



illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6, are based upon often-witnessed 

 proceedings of many different individuals. The response to 

 a continued disturbance of the snare by suitable prey, he says, 

 is so sure that an observer may at any time witness the 

 creature's operations. 



As soon as the snare is completed, the spider, without 

 a moment's rest, takes up her position under the trap-line 

 (Fig. 5, AL), a little way from the point of attachment (O), 

 with her head towards the snare. Firmly grasping the trap-line 

 with the first and second pairs of feet, she pulls herself back- 

 ward, by means of the hind pair of feet, until she reaches the 

 point of attachment, into which, or into the trap-line near it, 

 she fixes the hind feet. She has thus hauled in that part of the 

 trap-line which intervenes between the point of attachment and 

 the point grasped by the first and second pairs of feet ; and this 

 part of the line is now furled up above the creature in the form 

 of a loop of slack (SI.), which is held away from the body by 

 the short legs of the third pair. This proceeding, of course, 

 draws the snare towards the point of attachment, and puts it 

 upon the stretch, the two intermediate radii (i? 11 i? m ) and with 

 them the central portion of the base-line (BB) being most 

 affected. The strain put upon the structure is considerable ; 

 yet the spider often remains motionless for hours, perhaps for 

 days, constantly holding the snare taut and ready for action. 



After an insect has flown into the snare, the spider releases 

 the slack of the trap-line, and the remarkable snapping process 

 already alluded to is effected : 



Our spider's ability to keep still is fully equalled by her capacity for 

 action when the moment arrives ; and yet she is by no means hasty ; as 

 a general thing- (the exceptions being- due perhaps to hunger, or inex- 

 perience), the vibration of the net by an insect must be pretty decided, and 

 at least once repeated, before the spider feels justified in springing her 

 trap ; and when, as may sometimes happen naturally, but more often 

 through experiment, a large or fierce insect is put into the net, nothing will 

 induce the spider to budge ; she will suffer her net to be wholly destroyed 

 rather than expose herself or her reputation (?) to a doubtful encounter. 

 Let us suppose, however, that a common fly, or a gnat, or a moth, has 

 struck the net in passing — it may have touched a single cross-line* — but 

 this adheres with the greatest tenacity, and is so elastic as to yield without 

 breaking, so that each struggle involves the victim still more, and may 

 even bring it into contact with the next cross-line. As soon as the violence 



* Here, and elsewhere, Wilder does not use the term 'cross-line,' but 

 writes instead 'double-line,' or ' interradial ' ; for the sake of uniformity 

 I have ventured (without the usual indications) to suppress the latter terms 

 in favour of the former. 



Naturalist* 



