The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-07
ATALK ON SPIDERS.
| The Female is Much Larger and Often
/ Makes n Meal of the Male.

Makes n Meal of the Male.
Margaret Wentworth Leighton has
been spending considerable time study
ing spiders, and the results of her stu
dies are embodied in the article she
contributes to the Popular Science
Monthly According to her the spider
is deserving of more attention than 1t
receives, especially as 1t is more skill
full than man. This is shown in the
fact that the spiders thread is used
in the telescope because man has been
unable to manufacture one so delicate.
AS a rule the female spider is much
larger and stronger than the male. The
husbands place as the weaker vessel
is clearly shown by the fact that af
ter the honeymoon, which is always
brief. the bride dimes off the groom and
his career ends. In the case OF
spiders, the husband literally supports
his family.
Spiders differ materially in character,
habits, tastes and size. Some prefer to
live in houses or cellars, and never
seek the sunlight, others live under
water all their lives. while others bur-
row in the earth like moles. Many
spiders never leave their webs, but wait
for their prey, while others go boldly
forth and attack what they may find
that will serve for food. The most ad-
venturous spiders construct a sort of
balloon from their webs and then sail
away through the air. trusting to fate
! to land them in a desirable spot.
There are many instances of spiders
! that loved music. One lived for n long
time in the room where the boy Bee
hoven practiced, and it was noticed
that when he played his beloved violin
the spider knocked OFF work and did
not resume again until the music
ceased.
The spinning apparatus by which the
spider constructs its web Is one of the
most delicate instruments ever created
The spinarets, or spinners, are little or
gans at the rear end of the body. Each
has number of very minute holes in
1t and through these holes the silk
tiowes in liquid form, hardening as
soon as 1t meets the air. The strands
from several holes unite and form
what Is called the spiders thread.
The common garden spider, which
makes net of typical shape and some
times of large size, exercises the ut
two sorts Of silk. One is smooth and
the other is covered with a sticky sub
stance. In moving about on the web
the spider Is careful to walk on the
smooth silk. where there is no danger
/ Of becoming entangled in the snare in
tended for unwary flies.
About one hundred and fifty years
ago a FTenchman, M. lie Bon, made
! some stockings, purses and gloves of
the webs of spiders, and some years
ago the Empress of Brazil presented a
dress to Queen Victoria, the material
J Of which was woven by the spiders of
South America.
Spiders moult several times during
their lives, and on each occasion come
forth in a grab of new color. They
are greatly affected by the weather,
and on the approach of n storms take
refuge in safe spot They have been
known to hide in this way before there
were any indications of the approach
ing storm discernible to man.
Spiders receive a great deal of con-
sideration in India. where SO many
dumb animals are treated with con-
sideration and even reverence Chill
dren there keep spiders for pets, and it
Is nothing unusual to see a little tot
leading an enormous spider by a string
led around its body. Such pet spiders
are fed on worms and insects and they
'eadily accommodate themselves to cap
tvity and take food from the hand.