









































The Spinner Family 
spun they deftly drew out with their 
hands the long threads, so there would 
be no danger of breaking or tangling. 
Now Mrs. Epeira has no hands with 
which to draw out her threads, but 
she has something just as good. ‘The 
claws on her feet take the place of 
fingers. With these dainty tools she 
ingeniously guides her thread, carrying 
it out to one side, keeping it from 
adhering to surrounding objects, and 
fastening it where she wishes it to be. 
Sometimes she uses her claws to draw 
the threads from the spinnerets. 
Now and then the skilful little Spin- 
ner wishes to use a band of silk instead 
of a strong thread. When that is the 
case she holds her spinnerets apart so 
that the hundreds of threads unite side 
by side instead of twisting together, 
and the band is made. 
36 



