The approaching oviposition was heralded several hours beforehand by the animal commencing to weave a hammock-like compartment from the roof of the box and above the sheet-web. This chamber was about four inches long and was constructed precisely in the same manner as the sheet, to which it was braced by lines from various points of its under surface. Its construction occupied the whole day previous to the laying of the eggs, and not until half an hour before midnight was it completed. Within this compartment, close to the roof, the spider next wove a small sheet one inch long, working diligently in an inverted position, ventral surface upwards. After a quarter of an hour it rested for an equal space, apparently exhausted by its prolonged efforts. An hour and three quarters intermittent work served to complete the sheet, the spider varying the monotony of its sinuous walk round this small area by occasionally walking over it and strengthening the lines which attached its angles to the roof. [Illustration: Fig. 5. _Agelena_ weaving her egg-cocoon.] A marked change now became observable in the manner of working. The animal abandoned its incessant to and fro motion but began to jerk its body up towards the sheet, throwing silk strongly against it. At the same time the posterior spinnerets were actively rubbed together and the long posterior spinnerets separated and brought together again with a scissor-like action. The result of this performance was to invest the under surface of the small sheet with a coating of flossy silk quite unlike the ordinary web in texture, the purpose of which soon became evident, for at about a quarter past two the spider began to deposit its eggs _upwards_, against this loose-textured silk, aiding the egg-mass to adhere by occasional upward jerks of the body. This occupied between five and ten minutes, and as soon as it was accomplished the under surface of the egg-mass was covered by a layer of flossy silk similar to that against which it was laid, the eggs being thus entirely enveloped in a coating of soft loose-textured material. This was next covered in by a sheet of firm texture like that of the original web.