Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-06-27
The Spiders skill.

The best-known mechanics of the
insect world are the bees and ants,
wasps and hornets, all of which are
very skilful in cooperative house
building; but it is only of late that
people have begun to look at the
spiders, and find out that, uglyas they
are, and unlovable and selfish even
among themselves, they are wonder
FULLY skilled workmen i'm quite q
number of trades.
How many more trades n longer
observation will discover we cannot
guess, but already it is known that
there are masons, tent-Duilders, bal
loon and diving-bell makers, and
waterproofsilk manufacturers, beside
the common weavers that we all
know.
The mason spider, unfortunately
Tor other insects, does not earn his
living by his trade, although no one
can deny that he is skillful la
borer. But he does not devote him
self entirely to his calling in fact, he
makes 1T Subservient to his better
liked, if less innocent, occupation
Like any other bandit, the mason
spider finds it necessary to spend
much of his time in hiding, so he ex-
cavates for himself cave, not very
vide, but from one to two feet in
length, sometimes running down
ward in q more or less slanting man
ner, and sometimes on a level. AS
ne Is very luxurious in his tastes,
nothing less will please him than
Sllken hangings for his retreat. Like
nearly all others of his family, he is
by nature silk spinner, and it is
with silk of his own weaving and
spinning that he so beautifully lines
the entire length of his cave.
After the silken hangings are fin
lshed to his satisfaction, he proceeds
to labor which requires all his skill
both as a mason and as silk weaver,
and that is the trap-door which is to
close and hide his retreat.
For this purpose he first spins a
web exactly covering the mouth of
the cave, but attaches it only by one
side. Over this web, which, though
very fine, is also very strong, he
earth; then over this he weaveS an
other web, and then again puts on
layer Of earth, and so on, layer after
layer Of alternative web and earth,
cementing all together with cement
of his own preparing, until the door
is thick and firm enough to answer
his purpose.
or course the part of the web
which is attached to the side of the
cave forms the hinge to the door.
In most cases the spider leaves
open the door to his retreat when he
is out of it, only shutting it when he
seeks safety within, and opening it
easily by pushing it up from the in
side when he wishes to get out.
But there are some Of these cum
ming workmen who wish to secure
their caves from possible capture
while they are absent; so these eX-
tend the silken layers of the lid on
the hinge side in such way as to
form sort of handle or lever, lust
above the hinge. Having done this,
they can let the door or lid fall after
they have passed through, and when
they wish to re-enter they have only
to press back upon the lever, thus
opening the door.
AS the outside layer is of earth the
robber mason SPIDERS concealment
is complete, for the most practiced
eye can hardly, by the most diligent
search, discover the door so ingeni-
Ously made. This curious spider is
found in many places, but his haunts
have been observed chiefly on the
island of Zante, in the Mediterranean
Sea.
The tent-building spider, to form
the fairy-like tent i'm which it lives
and raises its young, it first weaves
Il tiny silken sheet with seven or
eight sides, with as many angles, to
which are attached fhe silken ropes
which hold the tent firmly to the sur
face of the ground.
So fine are the silken sheets that
several Of them are required to make
the tent strong enough to resist the
rain, and protect those under the
shelter of the tent. AS the spider
must protect its young from other
enemies than the weather, it has cum
ningly contrived that the different
layers shall form Il labyrinth through
which it alone can find Its way.
Another spider, the maker of
waterproof goods, is corsair, and
of course needs ship to sail about
in; and equally of course, consid-
ering its nature, it prefers to get its
ship by stealing. So having deter
mined to enter upon its piratical
career, it first looks about to find the
cast-off shell of water snail.
Having found one of suitable size,
it enters, and Immediately begins
to prepare door of vanished silk
which is perfectly waterproof.
Behind this door, effectually pro-
tected from the water, our cunning
corsair lives and floats about, wait
ing for his prey. Like all other cor
sairs, he sails under false cOlors. 1t
is to deceive his victims until thew
have no time to make their escape
that ne passes himself off as an in
nOcent water snail.
Not THE SAME GENEsIs.--A
German Hebrew professor had five
daughters, whom the students called
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Num-
bers and DeuteI onOmy. One day
the professor began his lecture by
saying:
Gentlemen, / wish to speak
to you to-day about the age of
Genesis" which remark was greeted
with burst of feet scuffling and a
general smile on the part of the
class.
The professor, thinking that his
lecture was being appreciated, con.