ON ARACHNIDA. 
443 
gluten. The epeira draws it to itself from time to time, to 
ascertain if it be attached. When it is assured of this by the 
resistance which it experiences, it binds and fastens the 
thread to the place where it is itself: the first thread serves as a 
point of communication for placing the others. The spider 
imparts to it more solidity. Afterwards, it spins others, per- 
pendicular and oblique, which it attaches to different branches, 
and the ends of which all repair to a common centre. When 
this labour is finished, it spins others, which it fastens above. 
They are apart from each other, and it places them circularly 
round the centre. The w T eb being finished, the epeira con- 
structs at one of the upper extremities, between two approxi- 
mating leaves, a little lodge, which serves it as a retreat. It 
usually remains there all day, and does not issue forth but in 
the morning and evening. It chooses the top of its web for 
a sheltering place, because insects ascend better than they 
descend. 
We have now exhibited the most general and interesting 
points in the economy of the sedentary araneides. Those 
which M. Latreille has designated under the name of wander- 
ing araneides, seize their prey by running or leaping upon it. 
These animals being carnivorous, and devouring each other 
when they meet, the sexual intercourse does not take place 
without great precautions on the part of the male, who is 
obliged to make the advances. The coupling which has been 
most observed by naturalists is that of the Epeira diadema, so 
common in gardens, towards the commencement of autumn, 
which is the season of its amours. The female remains tran- 
quil in the midst of its web, the head down, and the belly 
upwards. The male rambles around the web, and finally 
ventures to mount upwards; but he takes care first to attach 
a thread to some place, at no great distance, so that he may 
make use of it to save himself if the female should not be dis- 
posed to grant him a favourable reception. As soon as he has 
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