. American spiders and their spinning work. A natural history of the orbweaving spiders of the United States, with special regard to their industry and habits. Spiders. CONSTRUCTION OF AN OKBWEB. 69. Fig. 65. Jonathan Edwards' Illus- tration. from one tree to another, or would fly in the air, he first lets himself down from tlio twig he stands on by a web as in Fig. 1, and then, laying hold of it with his fore feet, and bearing himself by that, puts out a web as in Fig. 2, which is drawn out of his tail with infinite ease in the gentle moving air, to what length the spider pleases, and if the
. American spiders and their spinning work. A natural history of the orbweaving spiders of the United States, with special regard to their industry and habits. Spiders. CONSTRUCTION OF AN OKBWEB. 69. Fig. 65. Jonathan Edwards' Illus- tration. from one tree to another, or would fly in the air, he first lets himself down from tlio twig he stands on by a web as in Fig. 1, and then, laying hold of it with his fore feet, and bearing himself by that, puts out a web as in Fig. 2, which is drawn out of his tail with infinite ease in the gentle moving air, to what length the spider pleases, and if the farther end happens to catch by a shrub or the branch of a tree, the spider immediately feels it, and fixes the hither end of it to the web by which he lets himself down, and goes over by that web which he put out of his tail as in Fig. 3, and this my eyes have innumerable times made me sure ;i (See Fig. 65.) The habit indeed prevails and is utilized for many func- Use of tions; sometimes to secure a convenient Basket attitude for cleansing the limbs and ab- domen ; sometimes as a position of guard or rest when the spider through fright has cast itself from its snare or nest, and has paused mid- way of the ground ; sometimes as a favorable point of departure on a ballooning excursion. But most frequently the swinging basket serves, as here, when exploiting surroundings for an available orb site, and to work in the prime foundation line. While suspended thus she keeps one, or yet more frequently both fore legs extended slightly curved in the attitude of " on guard," and either held rigidly or occasionally waved to and fro feeling for the indi- cations of the presence of tlie friendly trial line, or of un- friendly objects. This use of the fore legs is habitual in all movements of spiders from point to point. While engaged in dragging a founda- tion line around vines and twigs, over leaves or other surfaces, she will often pause and wave the extended fore legs a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectspiders, bookyear1889
