The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-01-15
the display offmils prove that much at
iruIion has been paid to the Introduction
Of improved varislies in that far of coun.
ny,
Ab,ut spIders.


When we consider t.. gummy mlleri.
al with which spiders construct their
lines and webs, aud tie rough hairy
covering with few cxccption>) Of their
DO lies, it is somewhat surprising that we
do not find them always stuck over with
the fragments Of the minute fbrcs which
they produce. This, indeed, would hap.
pen, dil they rot take careful precau.
tons to avoid. They are very assiJu.
GUS in keeping themselves clean. Spi.
ders which careless observer as resting
lily, in nine cases out Of ten will really
be found slowly combing their legs with
their mand.blcs, beginning as high as
possible on the thigh, anil passing down
to the claws. The aue which they thus
comb offs regularly tossed away.
A wonderful structure is composed by
. sort Of spiders, natives Of the tropics
and of the south Of Europe. One Of
these "mason'spiderS, as they have been
Justly termed, founl in the south of
France, usually selects for her nest a
place bare Of grass, sloping in such
manner as to carry of the water, and of
q firm soil, without rocks or small stones.
Che digs gallery foot or two in depth
ard OF diameter equal throughout
sufficient to admit Of her easily passing,
She lines this with n tapestry of silk, gIu.
ed to the walls, This door, which is,cil-
cuhr. is constructed Of many layers Of
earth, kneajed and bound together with
silk. Externally il is fiat and rough,
corresponding to the earth around the
entrance, for the plrpose Of concealmeut
on the inside it is convex, and tapestried
thicEiy with web Of fine silk. The
threads of this tapestry are prolon-
gcd, and strongly attached 20 the upper
side ofthe entrance forming an excellent
hinge, which, when pushe open by the
architect and indwclIer. shuts again by
Its own weight. n similar nesp is con.
structod by a large black spiderin Aus
tralia' Mr., HodgSon thus describes il:
1.-THE nest is built in cylin lrcal form
two feet deep in the ground; the inside
is beautifully round, and bound by the
webs of the finest Iexture,gra ,uslly thin.
ner towards the base. The lid is lasten.
ed on by strong webs spun by the ma
son, and is as hard as bone, level with
soil; ii is raised or shut at the choice of
its occupant, and is very frequent on the
plains Of Australia. The inside is neat
ly finished and quite smooth"
Though spiders require atmospheric
air for respiration, yet one species is
aquatic in its habits, and lives not only
upon the surface but below the surface
Of the water, contriving to carry down
with it a suffloioncy of air for the sup.
sort OF life during considera bic period
Of time. It's sub-aqueous nest is a sort
of diving bell. and constitutes a secure
and mostingeniOus habiation. This spi-
der frcQuonts slow running streams, ca.
nails, and bitches, where she may often
be seen living in her diving.bel which
shines through the wafer like n little
globe Of silver, In The fen bitches Of
Norfolk is found a very large spider,
which forms raft for the purpose of Oh
tanning its prey with more facility, Kee'
ping its station upon ball of weeds
about three inches in diameter, probab.
'y held to7ether by silken cords, it is
waited along the surface Of the waller up.
on this floating island, Which, it quits the
moment ii cspies drownin. insect
The body thus seized, it devours at lei
sure upon the raft, under which it re.
tires when emminent danger threatens
it.