The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-15
HOtc q Spider Captured q Potato
Be efIe.

/ wish to place on record with you
an incident which came under my OBJ
servation, and which almost equals
the account of a spider raising a snake
in its web, which you published some
time ago | was sitting on my back
porch one day this summer, when |
observed a potato bug slowly APP
preaching along the floor. Anxious
20 annihilate as many as possible of
these pests, / kept my eye on him un
til he should come within reach,
when [ could put my foot on him
While watching in this way l noticed
= pretty good sized spider approach
ing the rug. At little distance he
stopped to survey his contemplated
victim, and then, with a mind seem
ingly determined as to what course to
pursue. ran around on the opposite
side of the bug, aud with an apparent
nip at him turned the bug from his
course, and toward a corner where |
noticed the spider had web some
four or more inches from the floor.
The bug had no inclination TO 90 in
that direction, but he was so closely
driven by the spider, which ran first
to one side then the other, exactly like
a shepherd dog driving sheep, hurry
ing his victim up with an occasional
nip or bite at his side. All this was
something new to me in The habits and
ways Of the spider, and | watched with
intense interest to see what the result
would be.
I,a, 1,a1 i inf n
the corner at Il point directly under
the web, the spider changed tactics,
and mace a series Of circles rapidly
around the bug, first in one direction
and then in another, occasionally TAX
ing a run up into the web. While L
was unable to see the delicate thread
spun by the spider, 1 saw that the
bugs legs soon became so entangled
that he could not make any headway,
but could only struggle around in a
limited latitude, which became more
and more limited as the spider untir-
ingly continued his work. Being COM
PEELED to leave at this moment, / re-
turned again in about half an hour. |
then found the bug turned on its back,
and Its feet apparently quite firmly
bound He was quite motionless, and
| thought be was dead, but he soon
showed signs of life by vigorously
kicking, which nearly released him.
The spider had been running up and
down AT different points, but quickly
left that work, and sliding dovn to
the bug, seemed to attack his throat,
and in such a manner that the bug
IL
cd to give up the ghost. The spider
then returned to his work OF attach.
ing lines to the bug and the web
They were soon so numerous that
could see them; besides, the light had
become more favorable. The regular
ijy Of the lines formed a sort of fun
mel, diverging as they did from The
bug to the outer parts Of the wei
above.
\ Aiter time the spider seemed t,
have lines enough attached, and begal
the new work OF shortening each line
as it appeared. He passed from lin
to line many times over, stopping al
instant at each | was again calleC
away at this jIncture, and did not sc
the curiosity until TIE next day. Til
bug was then elevated over an inc
abJve the floor, and the third day h
WIS safe,y in the center of the web
some five inches from the floor, an
all the tackle employed in hoistin
was completely cleared away. In tn
web were the caTcasses Of two othe
potato bugs, which L have no dOut
were caught in like manner, thong
they may have crawled up tie wa
into the web. [ cannot name the V:
riety of the spider, but it is yer
common one, of rather good size ia
ken altogether, but small as compare
with the bug. The spider could NJ
have weighed one-eighth as much {
the bug his body was long and slei
der, with long, slender legs, a very o
binary species of house spider, (,
brown color,) and called a large 81
der on acc, unit of his long legs.
This may be very common hab
of the spider, running out and driyin
in game to place where it can be ;
cured and hoisted, but | never hear
OF the like betore.-R B. Tlgeiter',
Scientific american.