Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-02


resnects have been wonderful. The in
vestigation was made for the purpose OF
getting photographs Of the web for lee
ture on entomology before a sclentinc
club.
After experimenting DR.. Laney found
the spider commonly known as the water
spider to be a willing, obedient WORKER
that nv changing the position OF the In
sect 10 a point he wanted him TO work IN
the spider would proceed with his labor
in a most accommodating manner, as II
nothing had happened. DR.. Laney mace
a small wooden framework, and in TINS ne
coaxed the spider to spin his web NaluI
allv. spider webs are not generally located
conveniently for Photographic purposes
and DR.. Laney conceived the idea Oh a
frame for the web that he could move 10
any Mace so as TO secure proper hght
and conditions for a photograph. Inc
willing worker DR.. Laney FOUND dlohe
creek near Cumberland where he carried
on his investigation.
After securing the web, which, In us
natural state, is comparatively lhviSlDle
Tor Photographic purposes, Dr. Lane!
proceeded first TO make 1t tenacious oy
spraying il with an alcohollc soluIloh VI
shellac from a medical atomizer' lhousn
stiu comparatively invisible after TINS
H..
with ease without fear of tearing II. 10
devalon the beautiful work of the SPIDER
mr. Tanev with another atomizer. spray
"a the web with a solution of gallic aclu'
which made it appear as IL frost hdu &c
tied upon IT, The web now seemeu u pe
covered with the mornings dew. 10 CON-
plete the effect Dr. Daney captuieu tle
snider. nut him in the death boX, anu
then coated him with shellac' DeItly
placing the insect in the wen III iiatuI a.
rosition he was sprayed with gallo aclu'
49, bIack velvet as a back ground Dr.
T.anev succeeded in photographing one Oh
tba most beautiful and delicate pictures
in nature. ,,..,,o,,
mr. Taney saws: THE spiders display
wonderful intelligence and mechanlcdl
ekiu in making these nets. Their lnstihc'
&c far above that of the ordinary amman
indeed. il quite borders on reason men
q large spider desires TO make wen lol
himself and he has some distance "
stretch it, he does not swing mIhsell, %
most people suppose, and let the vino VI
his own momentum take MN WheIo -
viii He begins his web by starting the
first guy very close up to the corner Oh
tba angle He attaches to the other size
~ the angle. making a short guy. bach
p1iv increases in length, the SPIDER AWAY
using the last guy made TO carry INC
ncvt one over until he attains the posilloii
g., which ne wishes to place his net. Inc
last cuv may be ten feet long ana the
first one only a foot in length.
"The last two guys become the suppois
. ~ net These will each be reinforced
by AT least six strands, all lalo III 'he o,io
able for the thorough support OF the
not After this the spider travels TO the
roin+ on the cable from which he wants
20 locate his net. attaches the web 10 thdt
Yoint and lets drop TO the next guy there-
~, LAYING the first angle guy OF the net
rben he craWls back over TINS same guy
10 the TOD again and repeats the ACT uIi.ii
ne has spun eight strands, Whlcn lhdhe
thirtv-two angular divisions in the net
An eniders. as have observed, make inc
same kind of a net, with the same mum
Der of strands and DIVISIONS
Now he proceeds 10 put IN the ~
work by starting from the centre Wlele
no attaches his web then with clrcu, ai
r'ottoo travelling from guy TO guy, SPIN
nino web as he goes, and by It's naturf
r,oisture sticks II 10 each guy, caieiuiiy
oarr,,ino the web i'm his hind feet TO pre-
-. a from touching except at the POM
aostred nv him. When he mas shidl'
Ste,anca of the inside completed ne go
20 the outside of the net ana hIlsh ,
ont any irregular part of the net 'hn'
does not come within the radius OF CIR
ole After the circle has been atlallle ~
the same rotary motion is Kept UP "n'ii
The net is finished 30 the centre
Here comes the most comic feature UNI, y,
net buiding-the test OF ths uul ',o'i =,
81 the work by the spider hllhsei4 as
80, &c the net is finished he pu s every
800 through the severest test b. sharp
Srisk terks, seemingly suffici mt to tear
~ whole net 10 pieces. The spider
e er tust then are certainly amusing
e. ne snider finds the web is not taut'
he win go to the end of the guy r., rope DS
stratch # until it suits him, and reattach
The GU. If the net sun $, ems ,o r,s.,
from n, centre the guy VIII D calliet
from the centre to some conVg bra P Tn
80 We the net its proper sh IN
~ -, done when necessary, displaying
~ oreat intelligence o. the insect