SILK TUBES AND NESTS.
Several species of Theridion and Epeira make tents near their webs, under which they hang when at rest, and in which some species make their cocoons, and lay their eggs. The tents are usually covered outside with leaves drawn together, with sticks or bud-scales collected near by, or with earth and stones brought up from the ground below.
Some spiders living on plants make flat tubes, in which they wait for insects, and also hide while moulting, or laying eggs. Others make, especially about the breeding-time, bags of silk on plants, or under stones, in which the egg-cocoons are finally spun.
Fig. 23.
Dolomedes makes among grass and shrubs, in meadows, a great nest, four or five inches in diameter, [Fig. 23], in which is the egg-cocoon. The young hatch and ramble about in this nest for some time. The spider remains near, usually holding on under the nest.