The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-08-25
THE GARDEN SPIDER.
Senao Interesting Experiments with Thi:
Ingenious Insect.

S9Aa0
Ingenious Insect.
The Garden Spider (Epeira diadema) 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 It's 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
a few of the most interesting:
Having an old fern-case, with sides and
top ali 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 a very tine
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 a perfect web, spun
horizontally across the case, about halfway
up; and on magnifying tho 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
u gummy substance, thus giyingi it greater
power Of adhesion than by trusting to
single cord. We placed a small horse-fy in
the case, where it soon became entangled
in the web, the spider Immediately rushing
down, Selling, and killingit She then car
ried it TO the top of the glass, and in four
minutes had sucked all tho 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 a 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 q different manner
from the first. Running to each il turn,
she turned the fly rapidly round and round
with her front legs; at the same time, two
distinct webs kept winding round the t1y
from the spinnerets, until it was encased in
such q 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 ay was quite fresh, and
when smashed between the fingers was IN
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
NEATLY, which Immediately flow through
the web, tearing it in a destructive man
ner The spider at once came down and re-
paired it; and in 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 CT
the fly, she made the cord fast Oh the other
sides On this cord we noticed tiny beads
hanging, Of clear-looking substance,
which, as the fly struggled, adhered to its
wings, impeding its 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 bourd
him with three cords, which she guided
about over the fly with her hiud-feet in a
wonderfully rapid manner. She then
pierced him Oh the side Of the trunk, from
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
then remained hanging on this cocoon. Her
body before she laid the eggs was as large
as a small bean; it is now {January} not
much larger than grain OF rape-seed. She
refuses all food, and appears in dormant,
if not q dying state.
There was another old spider, Of very
dusky colors, which we placed in O. large
glass jar. Although he was g. very large
one. he did not erect any web, out used to
try and catch the flies we placed in the jar
by snealsing around the glass to them while
they were resting. a few days after, we
introduced a younger spider, about three
parts grown, which quickly made 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 enc 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 injured part of the web, The spider
not attempting to repair the damage, not
being able evidently to produce a 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 we're neuters or workers, IN q
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-fve minutes, and then
in an apparently frightened state.
Weused to feed q female spider with HJ
every morning; and she became so used to
the habit, that at last, when we shook the
net. she would come and take the fly from
between our fingers. Unfortunately, she
died atthe end Of the season after laying a
cocoonful of eggs. .,
In experimenting in different ways with
some of the small insects, many hours may
be pleasantly spent, greatly adding a rich
store of knowledge as to the way in Which
things are endowed according to their
nature Of living.
Il Diabolical Plot.
The brutality with which newly-marrled
people are treated by their jesting friends
is constantly receiving fresh Illustration.
At recent Boston wedding q couple OF
sportive ushers discovered the train on