The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-09
CONSIDER THE SPIDER.
His Wonderful Work Made Known
by Maryland Naturalist.
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Dr. Henry Laney, of Cumberland.
who does considerable experimenting
along scientific lines for d pastime, has
lately been studying the lyphonides,
n Species of spider that builds its web
oven water along streams and rivers
with interesting results. His discover
les in some respects have been wonder
i"L The investigation was made for
the purpose Of getting photographs of
the web for a lecture on entomology
before a scientific club.
After e,Uerimenting DIR. Laney found
the spider commonly known as the
water spider to be willing, obedient
worker: that by changing the position
of the insect to a point he wanted him
tn work III the spider would proceed
with his labor in "A most accommodate
ing manner. as if nothing had hap
pened. Or. l aney made a small wood
en- frame work. and in this he coaxed
The spider II spin his web. Naturally,
spider webs are not generally located
conveniently for PHOTOGRAPHIC purposes
ana DR.. aney conceived the idea of a
frame for thr web that he could move
TO any Ilace, so as to secure proper
n.
The willing worker DR.. Laney found
along creek near Cumberland whore
H. carried on his investigation.
After securing the web. which, i'm its
natural state, is comparatively invis-
lple Tor Photographic purposes, DR..
Laney proceeded first to make it ten
aclous by spraying it with an alcoholic
solution of shellac from medical
atomlzer. Though still comparatively
invisible after this treatment, the web
could be handled with ease without
fear of tearing it. To develop the beau
tirul work of the spider. DR.. Laney, with
aonthor atomizer, sprayed the web with
solution of gallic acid, which made
it appear as if frost had settled upon
1t. The web now seemed TO be COW
cred with the mornings dew. To COM
pletc the effect, DIR. Laney captured
the spider. put him in the death box
and then coated him with a shellac.
Deity placing the insect in the web
Nin natural position, he was sprayed
With gallic acid. Using black velvet
as, u background, DR.. Laney succeed
ed lin photographing one of the most
beautiful and delicate pictures in nat
uTc. \
Dr. Baney says: THE spiders dis
play Wonderful intelligence and me-
chanical Sskill in making these nets.
Their ins binct is far above that of the
ordinary animal, indeed, it quite bor-
ders on reason. When large spider
desires to make a web for himself and
he has some hdistance to stretch it. he
does not swins himself, as most people
suppose, and let the wind or his mo-
mentum take him where il will He
begins his web by starting the first guy
very close up TO the corner of the angle.
He attaches TO the other side of the
angle, making a short guy. Every guy
increases in length, the spider always
using the last guy made 10 carry the
next one over until he attains the
position i'm which he wishes to place
his net. The last guy may be ten feet
long and the first one only u foot in
length.
The last two guys become the sup
port OF the net. These will each be re-
irforced by at least six strands, all
laid i'm tho one cable, :or the thorough
support of the net. Aften this the
spider travels TO the point orl the cable
from which he wants TO Locale his net,
attaches the web to that lpoint and
let's drop to the next guy. Thereby lay
Ing the first angle guy Of the lnet. Then