354 



FOOD OF INSECTS. 



of these barometrical spiders in spring should be announced 

 by the sound of trumpet, I have reason to suppose from my 

 own observations that his statements are in the main accurate, 

 and that a very good idea of the weather may be formed from 

 attending to these insects. 



The spiders which form geometrical nets differ from the 

 weavers also with respect to the situation in which they watch 

 for their prey. They do not conceal themselves under their 

 net, but either place themselves in the centre with their head 

 downwards, and retire to a little apartment formed on one 

 side under some leaf of a plant, only when obliged by danger 

 or the state of the weather, or, as before stated, constantly hide 

 themselves in a similar retreat. The moment an unfortunate 

 fly or other insect touches the net, the spider rushes towards 

 it, seizes it with her fangs, and if it be a small species at once 

 carries it to her little cell, and, having there at leisure sucked 

 its juices, throws out the carcass. If the insect be larger and 

 struggle to escape, with surprising address she envelops it 

 with threads in various directions, until both its wings and 

 legs being effectually fastened, she carries it off to her den. 

 If the captured insect be a bee or a large fly so strong that 

 the spider is sensible that it is more than a match for her, she 

 never attempts to seize or even entangle it, but on the con- 

 trary assists it to disengage itself, and often breaks off that 

 part of the net to which it hangs, content to be rid of such an 

 unmanageable intruder at any price. — When larger booty is 

 plentiful, these spiders seem not to regard smaller insects. I 

 have observed them in autumn, when their nets were almost 

 covered with the Aphides which filled the air impatiently 

 pulling them off and dropping them untouched over the sides, 

 as though irritated that their meshes should be occupied with 

 such insignificant game. — A species of spider described by 

 Lister {Epeira conica) more provident than its brethren, sus- 

 pends its prey in the meshes above and below the centre, and 

 it is not uncommon to see its larder thus stored with several 

 flies.i 



You must not infer that the toils of spiders are in every 



1 Lister, Hist. Anim, Ang. 32, tit. 4. 



