Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-17
gHe eAILY RECORD-UNION.
STUDIES IN SPIDERS.

STUDIES IN SPIDERS.
Most readers of the Press are doubtless
familiar with the name of Mrs. Mary
Treat, of Vineland, n. j., whose studies
In natural history have been from time to
time recorded in the columns OF the monthly
magazines and other periodicals. At pres
emit Mrs. Treats observations are confined
chiefly to spiders. Calling at her cottage
in the suburbs OF this city, where she is
costly at home - in suite of sunshiny
apartments, which she occupies alone, l
found the spider.lo ver-a cultured, refined,
delicate little lady. whose hair is lightly
touched with gray-returning from morn
ing spent in an oak opening at short dis
lance in the rear Of the house. Books and
papers marked with the authors compli-
ments, occupy the reading. stand in the
sunny bay-window a microscope is sta
toned ready for use; bright woods, gath
cred leaves, souvenirs OF an autumn jour
ney in The North, adorn the walls, and a
small table, placed at sufficient distance
from the window to allow. easy passage
around it, holds several large bouquets, Of
more brilliancy than beauty.
'sTbose are not placed there to admire, j
she says, In answer to the notice they call
forth. ''but to entice some spider, out in
search of a building site. Several have
settled down to business already. Would
you like 30 take a peep 1t them in their
own domicles p moving around the table
with as much pride as though it was q
plush-embroidered sunhower she was about
to exhibit. There is one of my especial
pets isn't he a beauty" There he vas
brown, hairy, long-legged fellow, sitting
with hia knees doubled mp, evidently wait
ing for some incautioua visitor in the edible
lire TO come along and supply him with a
meat dinner.
"How do they subsist now that fly time
Is over y | asked.
Goa, forage for them" she answered.
81 When the weather is cold they eat moth
ing. There Is a colony of them now under
that bell. glass IN the light; they have gone
into winter quarters. Sometimes they keep
active the winter through without food
but whenever days are sunny dinners are
plenty. for l throw open the doors and
windows. set out some growing things to
make the room bright as possible, and the
flies come buzzing in, and | am able to har-
vest small crop. 1t is q poor day when
my spiders and l together cannot lure few
unwaTy victims into a neat little trap. By
moderate strategy l make the capture, and
they put the prisoners to death.
50 Is it true that they devour their kind %
Sometimes. TIE male is henpecked
fellow, and the female will eat him if she
gets a chance. Occasionally a mother
spider kills some of her numerous progeny
to feed her remaining ravenous brood OF
spiderlings. At one time brought up an
entire family in a bottle, and you can have
no idea how interesting found them. The
babies, IN astonishing numbers, swarm on
the mothers back and crawl over her body
until big enough to wean, which is not
until they are from four to six weeks old.
AT that time she kicks, shakes, or scrapes
them off by the dozen, ard after few re.
bluffs they run away to set up house-keep,
Ing for themselves. 1t is amusing to watch
the mother feed her brood. l have fire.
quently offered her nice plump fly, which
she accepted eagerly, and Immediately sew
eral of the little ones were hidden to the
feast. Three or four would gather around
and suck the juices while she held the
dainty n-orsel for them. When they had
drawn plenty off they scampered and new
relay came up to lay hold of the tidbit. -
cit is plain you do not share the popu.
lar antipathy to spiders, remarked, en-.
deavoring to make satisfactory inspection
and still maintain a respectful distance
from a sprawly black creature that goes
stalking about on some mysterious errand
connected with its spinning
"No, l have no antipathy for thenl,'' she
says, warmly. "They are pretty good
companions when one lives alone. l have
spent several years studying them here and
in portions of New England. cultiyatin2
their agriculture closely, and yet 1 feel
that am only beginning to know their
ways. They are beginning to know me,
and will take building material from my
hand when offer it. A spider lives several
years, and besides their domestic life, their
building and spinning and weaving, which
are beautifully and systematically carried
on, there are births and deaths to be
chronicled, and curious characteristic traits
which only the close observer discovers. u
i Philadelphia Press.