Dialogues on entomology, in which the forms and habits of insects are familiarly explained / [Anon].

Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dialogues on entomology, in which the forms and habits of insects are familiarly explained / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    37 2 Mother. The spider weaves a loose elastic bag, which is secured to the ground, at the bottom of the water ; and by a coat of transparent varnish, it renders this bag air-tight. Then, rising to the surface of the water, and sucking in a portion of air from the atmosphere, it returns to the bottom, introduces the air into the bag, and again ascends for a fresh supply; repeating this process till the bag, or air-chamber, is sufficiently distended. There the spider lives; it can go out at pleasure to seek its prey, but returns home to devour it at leisure. Lucy. I suppose these spiders feed only on the little creatures, which are found in the water? Mother, They hunt on dry ground with equal ease, but they always dive, with whatever food they procure, to their aerial abode in the water. Lucy. Js not that beautiful shining silk, with which the fields are sometimes covered, made by a spider ? Mother. Yes; the gossamer, which