10 
NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
even waving their legs over their heads to display 
their fine patches! 
“ They build an odd sae-like nest made up of 
several envelopes. Here the spiders hide during 
the moulting season, and here they spend the 
winter. Here, too, the eggs are sheltered in frail 
little hammocks. The young hatch early in the 
season, and are carefully guarded by the mother 
until they are ready to engage in life’s business. 
By fall they are equal to spinning their own sac 
winter quarters. 
“ If you youngsters want a fad this summer, 
why not try spiders? I once heard a man say 
that, if spiders did not occur in our country, and 
we could bring in some of these wondrous little 
animals that spin from their bodies threads of 
silk of different kinds, and with these threads 
build homes and cradles and wonderful snares 
for entrapping their prey, we would all make 
long journeys to see them, and gladly pay the 
price of a heavy admission fee. Spiders’ webs 
are to be found everywhere, and every time you 
discover a new pattern you may be sure of mak¬ 
ing the acquaintance of another family in the 
great clan. Webs are exceedingly interesting 
things, and you boys who have tried making 
snares will be surprised at their cunning. They 
are built in all sorts of forms, from the common 
irregular tangled mazes of our household spiders, 
