HABITS OF SPIDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 77

HABITS OF SPIDERS.

The following letter reached me during the week; it has arisen out of a letter from Blue Violet last week, and I should be extremely glad if any observant D.L.P. could contribute any further information about, the interesting little phenomenon my correspondent has noticed. I give Old Boy'a " letter verbatim: Dear Do*,—Blue "Violet's letter, or that part about spiders, and your comment thereon, brought very vividly to my mind an episode that I think must be called unique. About 10 years ago, leaving Ruahine by the morning train, I noticed' that the spider webs were all festooned by globules of moisture; but as my eye travelled over them it was brought up by seeing one web that had no globules on its inner half. Going closer, I saw a spider busy gathering these globules with his mandibles, and passing the moisture along the under side of his body to the apex, from, which it dropped to the ground. It was making good gress when 'the train came,. and I haS to leave, promising myself a longer look ctt some future time; but though I have kept a look-out, and seen some thousands, I have never seen the same thing again. Spring is a good time for watching.; If your little army could be induced to watch, they surely will make it less unique.—Yours truly, Old Boy. [I feel grateful to Old Boy for his interest in our page, and for contributing this item to a topic that came up in one of the letters, I should like a discussion on the matter, and to encourage observation,, I shall invite letters from any D.L.F. on the habits o fspiders, as personally observed by the writers, and shall give a prize of a book for the best letter on the subject which reaches me before September 20.—DOT.]

GUILD OF THE BRAVE POOR THINGS.

I have to correct a statement made in my acknowledgments of last week. A parcel containing two flannel singlets,- a collar, a tie, and a doll, which arrived without any name inside, was wrongly attributed to Mahinapua, who had stated that she was sending a parcel. A letter received later showed me that Lady Lilias had sent it. I have also to acknowledge the following gifts this week: s. d. Per Mrs S., Timaru (Mrs O'C. ss, Mrs R. 3s, Miss MacL. 2s) i .. .. .. 10 0 Mountain Olive and brother .. .. 2 0 Devonshire—Child's pinafore. Awatere.—Three scrap-books. (Views of New Zealand, mounted on brown paper. Awatere" Bias" already sent two.) Port Awanui.-—Two knitted white singlets, and child's white flannelette petticoat. Dorigen.—One pair knitted socks, ona> crochet shoulder cape. : '■' I send sincere thanks to all these donors for their gifts. If there are other things to come. I would remind all those who are making them that they ought to reach me by September 20.