File:Hardwicke's science-gossip - an illustrated medium of interchange and gossip for students and lovers of nature (1868) (14778727001).jpg

Identifier: hardwickesscienc04cook (find matches)
Title: Hardwicke's science-gossip : an illustrated medium of interchange and gossip for students and lovers of nature
Year: 1868 (1860s)
Authors: Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt), b. 1825 Taylor, J. E. (John Ellor), 1837-1895
Subjects: Science Natural history
Publisher: London : Robert Hardwicke
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library

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t last in making her way out,she was not successful in getting in again, so, boldlyattacking a smaller spider with a more commodiousdomicile, endeavoured to take forcible possession.The rightful owuer fought long and bravely in de-fence of her home and embryo family, until, draggedforth by the leg by sheer force, she became an out-cast and a wanderer; and although many attemptswere afterwards made to regain possession of thehome she had been at so much pains to construct,they were all unavailing, and she shortly after died.In the course of a few days a brood of young spidersappeared in this nest, and lived amicably with their Jan. 1,18G8.) HAUDWICKES SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 13 foster-mother. Ill three of the four other nestsbroods soon followed; these remained with themothers until the young had attained a considerablesize,—a period of several weeks. The first, andprobably the second moult, takes place within thenest; the third, after the young spider has com-menced life on its own account.
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Fig. 3. Nest with dead leaves, twigs, &c. The eggs were enclosed in nearly spherical cocoonsof yellowish-white silk; the diameter of eachcocoon being about one-eighth of an inch, and eachcontained about 30 eggs (arachnologists say thatthe cocoons of this species contaiu from 20 to 60);I had, therefore, about 120 young Theridions in mynursery : of these but four were males. Althoughso numerous, these juveniles appeared to be on verygood terms, seldom engaging in any quarrels—not sofrequently as the same number of boys in a schoolwould have done. When an insect is entrapped in the snare of theTheridion, she comes to the entrance of her nest toreconnoitre, and then, descending her cable, ap-proaches the creature ; if too large to carry off atonce, she elevates her abdomen towards the un-fortunate victim, and, by a curious movement of hertwo hindermost legs, draws from her spinners athread with which she entangles its feet, and thiswithout actually touching them. The line is sofine

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