THE GARDEN-SPIDER. 
509 
objects around. Sometimes the guy ropes are so strong, and their elasticity so great, that 
they actually draw the net out of its flat horizontal direction, and make it swell into a very 
shallow dome. 
The structure of the web is rather loose, and the fibres are necessarily very slender, but is 
yet strong enough to arrest and detain tolerably large insects. The spider generally remains 
near the middle of and below the web, and, as soon as a 
passing insect becomes entangled in the treacherous meshes, 
the spider runs nimbly to the spot, wounds the insect 
through the web, and so kills it. The next move is to bite a 
hole in the web, pull the dead insect through, and then to 
suck the juices from its body. 
The curious spider seen in the illustration is called the 
TetragnatTia. In this spider the jaws are very large, long, 
widened towards their tips, and diverging from each other. 
The eyes are nearly of the same size, and are arranged in 
two regular lines, nearly parallel to each other. The web 
which this creature spins is vertical, like that of the garden- 
spider. 
We now arrive at the Epeiridse, a family containing 
some of the strangest members of the spider race. The best 
known of this familv is the common Gabdex-spidee, some- 
times called the Ceoss-spidee, from the marks upon its 
abdomen. It is illustrated in the accompanying illustration. 
This is thought to be the best typical example of all the 
Arachnidse. It is found in great numbers in gardens, 
stretching its beautiful webs perpendicularly from branch 
to branch, and remaining in the centre with its head downwards, waiting for its prey. This 
attitude is tolerably universal among spiders; and it is rather curious. that the Arachnids) 
should reverse the usual order of things, and assume an inverted position when they desire to 
repose. 
The web of this spider is composed of two different kinds of threads, the radiating and 
supporting threads being strong and of simple texture. But the fine spiral thread which 
b divides the web into a series of steps, decreasing in breadth towards 
the centre, is studded with a vast amount of little globules, which 
give to the web its peculiar adhesiveness. These globules are too 
small to be perceptible to the unassisted eye, but by the aid of a 
microscope they may be examined without difficulty. In an ordinary 
web, such as is usually seen in gardens, there will be about eighty- 
seven thousand of these globules, and yet the web can be completed 
in less than three-quarters of an hour. The globules are loosely 
strung upon the lines, and when they are rubbed off, the thread is no 
longer adhesive. 
Many interesting circumstances can be narrated of this spider, 
but our space will not permit of more than a brief description. 
Several species of Epeira are inhabitants of England, and have differ- 
a, female of the ceoss- en f habits. The following account of an Epeira and its web is given 
Thf ey e r^7eef fooT' the tbe Rev - D - Landsborough, in his “Excursions to Arran” 
front. (Magnified.) u As he was rather a gigantic spider, his tent, instead of being 
on the ground, was elevated, like the house of a giant of whom in 
early life we have all read. It was built on the tops of the common grass, Holcus lanatus , 
more than a foot above the ground. Had he built his house on the top of one stalk of grass, 
the house and its inhabitant might have borne down a single slender stalk. But he had con- 
trived to bring together several heads whose roots stood apart, and, with cordage which he 
MALE OF THE TETEAGNATHON. — Tetrag- 
nathon extensa. Above the position of the 
eyes are Been from behind. (.Magnified.) 
