The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-03-12
The spider in His workshop.

Few persons can boast of having
seen the garden spider at the com.
Imencement Of his operations, says
the author of ''Insect Curiosities. -
They work either in the night or
very early in the morning. con-
trived to see the architect ere he
had entirely finished his outworks,
and was indeed delighted at the
wonderful ssgacity OF his calcula-
tions. He planned and executed at
the same time. There was no guess
work; everything was done on math-
ematical principles Of exactness. -
His ropes, ladders and scafolding
being adjusted and fixed, and their
strength thoroughly tested, the next
step was to proceed with the inter-
nal arrangements. These consisted
Of q series of concnntric circles, in
the formation OF which the most con.
summate art was manifested.
The house spiders net or web, is
composed of one kind of silk only
The garden spider uses two kinds Of
silk in its operations. That which
is employed in constructing the radia
lis not of an adhesive nature; but the
reverse is the case with the silk used
for the conccntric circles; consequent.
Ily il is by these last that the prey is
secured. On paying him a second
visit, he was seen comfortably and
boldly stretched out on the centre of
his mansion, head downwards. lie
had not breaktasted, but was evi.
IDENTIFY expecting company.
Having witnessed his gigantic Ia
bors, a thought suggested itself that
| should assist in providing the com
pany. Accordingly, a wasp which
found its way in at the window, was
struck down. Picking it up with the
end of partially closed scissors, |
took my position in front Of the
web. The eyes Of the spider, it
would appear, are 80 constructed as
not to readily discern large objects,
unless when in motion. My pres.
ence, therefore, was quite uuhceded.
| had frequently noticed tins curious
fact on former occasions. Present
ing the wasp at the end OF the scis-
sors. his majesty regarded it with
fear; then with a feeling OF hungry
delight. His first impression was
to run away with it, which he did
But it was not quite dead, and was
struggling; he evidently feared ii
might break away, and escape alto
gether. Returning, therefore, he
surveyed his prey, as if doubtful how
to manage him, for he Enthusiastically
dreaded his sting. Herein was seen
the sagacity, instinct, or reason oI
our hero. Placing one toe on the
head, and another or the lower part
of the wasp's body-avoidin8 the
sting in the most mastery manner -
in this stretched out position he turn.
el several somcrscts with him, ana
fairly doubled him up in his web, en-
casing him so firmly in his tolls ot
new spun silk that his death wes i'm
mediate. He then dragged hm NJ
to q little apartment o"crarched by
ivy. and there lie sucked the juice:
Of his body. In the course Of sun
dry other experiments with this samC
.nider | coayel him to comn down
over and over again, to secure othe
prey, in the form Of flies, Sc. whicl
presented with the naked finger an(
thumb. He seized them greedily
. spun rapidly round them to entom|
them IN his tolls, and on every occa
sion returned Immediately to hi
/ apartment to continue his feast on tn
, savory wasp.