84 
TIIE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
from the under side. The act of securing a fly, or other insect, is very 
curious : when a fly is entangled, the spider rushes to the spot, but instead 
of seizing or wounding the captive, she quickly involves it in a winding- 
sheet, out of which it cannot escape. This she performs by resting or 
hanging by her two middle feet, one on each side of her prey, which, with 
her two fore feet, she keeps turning round and round, while with her hind 
feet she keeps drawing a strong thread from her spinners, alternately 
wrapping it right and left over the captive, until the latter is completely 
enveloped in a coat of the tissue. The spider then fixing a thread to the 
body of the fly, which she holds in one of her hind feet, cuts it adrift, and 
returns with it to the central platform, fixing it there to be devoured at 
leisure. If the web were not inclined to the horizon, the spider could 
not convey her prize across the web without tearing it to pieces. While 
on the watch she always rests on the centre platform with her head down¬ 
wards, and from this station she has a private railway of a few threads 
leading to her dormitory. 
In the foregoing description of the manoeuvres and manners of the 
geometric spiders, I have had the diadem spiders (Aranea diadema ) chiefly 
in view; for this species is by far the most conspicuous and common 
throughout the summer and autumn, both in fields and gardens; and the 
study of their manners, morning, noon, and night, is a most amusing 
occupation. The poet says, 
“ The spider’s touch, how exquisitely fine ! 
Feels at each thread, and lives along the line.” 
And, indeed, the sensitiveness of these insects in feeling the least dis¬ 
turbance on the most distant line of their webs, and their caution in 
approaching the disturbing cause to ascertain whether it be a friend or 
enemy, are quite astonishing ! 
There are several species of spiders which weave symmetrical webs; 
but the manner of working and securing the prey is very similar in all. 
As soon as the frosts at the beginning of winter are felt, the field and 
garden spiders suddenly disappear, by retreating to dry coverts, where 
they die, or are devoured by insect-eating birds during winter. One 
other act of a spider’s sagacity may just be added in conclusion. After a 
wet or dewy night, the spider finds in the morning her web heavily loaded 
with drops of water, to discharge which, she repairs to the centre, and 
poising herself on all her feet, gives her body two or three rapid convulsive 
shakes, by which the web is effectually freed from the hanging drops. 
Chelsea, 
January 2D, 1841. 
