The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-08
SPIDER ARCHITECTS
Plans q tie 5Iost Dainty House
in the World.

GIahS u tEe S1CsI O@iHIy aoooo
in the World.
There a-e few members Of the animal
kingdom whose work is more marvel
Gus than that Of the geometric spider
and those related to him. DR.. Henry
:-aney of Cumberland. Nd, who does
considerable experimenting along SCI
entiac lines FOR pastime has lately
been studying the thelyphonices, q
species Of spider. that builds its Weo
over the water along streams and nv
ers, With interesting results.
After securing The web, which, in It's
natural state, Is comparatively inylsl-
bic for Photographic purposes, DR.. La
nev proceeded first 10 make it tena-
cious by spraying it with an alcoholic
solution OF shellac from medical ato-
mizer. Though still comparatively in
visible after this treatment the web
could be handled with ease, without
fear Of tearing it To develop the
beautiful work Of the spider Dr.. Laaey
with another atonlizer 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 and then coated him with shellac.
Deity placing the insect 10 the web
in natural position. he was sprayed
with gallic acid. Using black velvet
as background. Er. Larey succeeded
ia photographing one of the mGst
beautiful and delicate pictures found
in nature.
Or. Laney 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 a large spider desires to make
q 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 momen-
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
2reases in length, the spider always u.s.
ing the last guy made to carry the next
ct.e over until he attains the position
in which be wishes to place his net.
The last guy may be ten feet long and
the first one only foot in length
When the guys are ali fixed to his
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 to
guy, spinning web SIS he goes and by
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 small distance OF the
inside completed he goes to the outside
Of the net and finishes out any irregu-
lar part Of the net that does not come
within the radius OF a 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 bui,ding-thc test Of the duraoll-
ity Of the work by the spider himself.
As soon as the net IS finished, he puts
every guy through the severest test
by sharp, brisk jerks, seemingly sufh-
cient to tear the whole net to pieces.
II he finds the net is not taut, he viii
20 to the end Of the guy rope, stretch
it until the net suits him and reattach
the guy. Il the net still seems loose
from the center, the guy will be ca.
ried from the center to some convent
ent point, to give the net its proper
shape.
"The nets are perched so as to catch
mosquitoes and small insects. The
struggles Of the prey generally serious
" da ye the nets. The spider him
self il morning denoolishes the rest
Of the web for the day, with the ex-
ception Of the main guy ropes, retires
to a secluded quarter and again ap-
pears late in the afternoon, about 4:30
or 5 o'clock, and renews his net. It re-
uuires him about an hour and half
10 construct the ordinary web. This
work is done every day, rain or shine,
and both male and female spiders are
e1ually 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 it's mesheS. and when his work
Of building is finished he pounces up
on them rayepously, 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 ewn 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 fine;
web behind, entirely renewing the
guy."-St. Louis Republic"