The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-09-25
SPIDER ARCHITECTS
Plans Of the Nest Dainty House
in the World.

~~~~~
in the World.
There are few members Of the animal
kingdom whose work is more marvel
ous than that of the geometric spider
and those related to him DR.. Henry
Laney of Cumberland, Md, who does
considerable experimenting along SCI
entifc lines for pastime has iateiy
been studying the thelyphonides, a
species Of spider, that builds It's "eD
over the water along streams ana r1F-
ers, with interesting results.
After securing the web, which, IN lts
natural state, is comparatively 1nVlsl-
BILE for Photographic purposes, Dr. La
ney proceeded first to make it tena-
cious by spraying it with an alcohohc
solution Of shellac from a medical ato-
mizer. Though still comparatively in
visible after this treatment the web
could be handled with ease, without
fear Of teaging it. To develop the
beautiful work Of the spider DR.. Laney
with another atomizer sprayed the
web with solution Of gallic acid,
which made it appear as if frost had
settled upon it. The web now seemed
to be covered with the mornings dew.
To complete the effect Dr. Laney cap
tured the spider, put him in the death
box ard then coated him with shellac.
Deity placing the insect in the web
in a natural position, he was sprayed
with gallic acid. Using black velvet
as background. DR.. Laney succeeded
in photographing one of the most
beautiful and delicate pictures found
in nature.
DR.. I.aney says: ''The spider displays
wonderful intelligence and mechanical
skill in making these nets. Its instinct
is far above that Of the ordinary ami
NAL; indeed. it quite borders on reason.
When large spider desires to make
web for himself and he has some
distance to stretch it, he does not
swing himself, as most people suppose,
and let the wind or his own moEen-
tum take him where it 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. Each guy IN
creases in length, the spider always us
ing the last guy made to carry the next
one over until he attains the position
in which he wishes to place his net.
The last guy may be ten feet long and.
the first one emily foot in length.
when the guys are all fixed to mis-
satisfaction he proceeds to put In the
network by starting from the center,
where he attaches his web, then with.
circular motion travelling from guy 70.
guy, spinning web as ne goes and py
its natural moisture sticks it to each
guy, carefully carrying the web In his,
hind feet, to prevent it from touching
except at the point desired by him.
When he has a small distance Of the;
inside completed he goes to- the outside
of the net and finishes out any iregu-
lar part Of the net that does not come.
within the radius Of circle. After the.
circle has been attained the same TO-
tary motion is kept up until the net IS
finished to the center.
Here comes the most comic feature
of net building-the test Of the duraol-
ity of the work by the spider hfmsesf.
AS soon as the net is finished, ne puts
every guy through the severest test
by sharp, brisk jerks, seemingly sufh-
cient to tear the whole net to pieces.
If he finds the net is not taut, ne WILL.
go to the end Of the guy rope, stretch
it until the net suits him and reatcacn
the guy. If the net still seems loose
from the center, the guy viii be car.
ried from the center to some conTeni-
ent point, to give the net its proper
shape.
1.-The nets are perched so as to catch
MOSQUITOES and small insects. The
struggles Of the prey generally serious
" damage the nets. The spider him
self in the morning demolishes the rest
of the web for the day, with the ex-
ception Of the main guy ropes, retres
to a secluded quarter and again ap-
pears late in the afternoon, about 4:3O
or ; o'clock, and renews his net. 1t re-
| uuires him about an hour and a half
to construct the ordinary web. This
+, work is done every day, rain or shine,
and both male and female spiders are
equally industrious. The baby spiders
are taught industry, beginning net;
building right after their birth. While
| building his net the spider takes no.
notice Of the accumulation Of insect
life in its meshes, and when his work
of building is finished he pounces up
on them ravenously, consuming them
in toto. You cannot kick or blow
these spiders out Of their nets, nor can
they be taken unawareS. When they
fall their own net is attached to them,
and they can almost touch the water
and then quickly run back on the silk.
en- string which they spun while fall
ing. The web is always attached to
them. When the main guy Of the net
becomes too full Of insect debris for
convenience and comfort, the spider
goes out. consuming all before him,
and at the same time spinning a fine
web behind, entirely renewing the