Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-23
THE GARDEN SPIDER.
S0mae Interesting Experiments with 1nfs
 Ingenious Insect.

The GarQen SplOer (Epelr8 Q1adcma) IS one of the most beautiful, in form and color, of the many hundred species we have in England, says Chambers Journal. The man. ner in which it spins its web-certainly the most regular in make-displays great inge- nuity in the way the web is secured to sus- tain sudden strain on any part of it. We have been watching several experiments with this spider, of which the following are few of the most interesting:
 Having an old fern-case, with sides and top all glass, we filled the bottom with earth, placing few sticks firmly in the soil, so that the spiders would have some projec- tions to secure their webs to. The first spider we placed in the case was very fine specimen, nicely marked on the top of the abdomen. We took her from an old laurel tree in which there were several young ones. The first day she remained crawling about on the ground; but on looking next morning, we found perfect web, spun horizontally across the case, about halfway up; and on magnifying the ends of the web that were fastened to the glass-which was very smooth-we discovered the spider had frayed out the ends of the web-lines, and had fastened them to the glass by means of gummy substance, thus giving it greater power of adhesion tha1 by trusting to single cord We placed a small horse-hy in the case where it soon became entangled in the web, the spider immediately rushing down, seizing, and killing it. She then car- ried it to the top of the glass, and in four minutes had sucked all the moisture out of it. She then wrapped it loosely round with web, leaving only one line to it, by which she carefully lowered it, for about two inches through space in the net; then cut ting the line with her hind-feet, she let it fall to the ground.
 After this we placed four flies in the case, three of which were speedily caught The spider having evidently eaten enough, she disposed of these flies in a different manner from the first. Running to each i'll turn, she turned the fly rapidly round and round with her front legs; at the same time, two distinct webs kept winding round the fly from the spinnerets, until it was encased in such bag of web that the fly could not be seen. She then hung them in different parts of the web, eating two of them the same night. Thinking the flies so wrapped up would be air-tight, we detached one from the web leaving it exposed to the air for three days. Although the weather was very hot, we found, on carefully opening the case, that the dead fly was quite fresh, and when smashed between the fingers was ln a perfectly juicy condition. This clearly shows their wonderful instinct in preserv- ing food for future meals.
 One day we placed in this case large meat-fy, which immediately flew through the web, tearing it in a destructive man. ner. The spider at once came down and re- paired it; and in a few minutes the fly was once more in the web, struggling hard This time, the spider came within about half an inch of the fly, made strong cord fast to three'of the outside lines of the net, and then running quickly over the back of | the fly, she made the cord fast on the other | sides. On this cord we noticed tiny beads | hanging, of clear-looking substance, which, as the fly struggled, adhered to it's wings, impeding it's movements. Leaving the fly for nearly two minutes, by which time he was almost exhausted, the spider once more drew near, and quickly had him | by the back. Swaying her body from side to side at the same time, she soon bound | him with three cords, which she guided | about over the fly with her hind-feet in a wonderfully rapid manner. She then pierced him on the side of the trunk, from which place she did not again loose until the fly was dead. Making a slight repast, she bound the remains securely in the web, for future meals. This same spider we have now. Last September she completely de- stroyed her web, and spun bright yellow cocoon on the top of the glass. and laid, as near as we have yet examined, about three hundred and sixty eggs. She has since UuSu ISlud1uCu OA IAtS SOSOOA. ACA body before she laid the eggs was as large as small bean; it is now (January) not much larger than gram of rape-seed. She refuses all food and appears in a dormant, if not dying state.
 There was another old spider, of very l dusky colors, which we placed in large glass jar. Although he was very large one, he did not erect any web, but used to try and catch the flies we placed in the jar by sneaking around the glass to them while they were resting. A few days after, we introduced younger spider, about three parts grown, which quickly made a very strong and useful web. The old spider took no notice of the newcomer until the younger | spider had completed his home and made all comfortable. Then the old one carefully climbed into the net Or web, attacked and killed the owner and took possession. After this we placed several flies in the jar, some of which in jured part of the web, the spider not attempting to repair the damage, not being able evidently to produce web, through old age or injury. To show the power spiders have of knowing what insects they can safely attack, we placed two large ants, which were neuters or workers, in a l web. When the spider came down and saw who the visitors were, he fell from the web to the bottom of the jar, where he lay seem | ingly paralyzed with fear. We then re- moved the ants. The spider did not return to his web for thirty-five minutes, and then in an apparently frightened state.
 We used to feed female spider with a fly every morning; and she became so used tc the habit, that at last, when we shook the net, she would come and take the fly from between our fingers. Unfortunately, she died at the end of the season after laying 6 cocoonful of eggs.
 In experimenting in different ways with some of the small insects, many hours may be pleasantly spent, greatly adding rich I store of knowledge as to the way in which things are endowed according to theil nature of living.
 A DiaboHcal Plot.
 The brutality with which newly-married people are treated by their testing friends is constantly receiving fresh illustration At a recent Boston wedding a couple o1 sportive ushers discovered the train or which the bridal pair were to leave town