GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORBWEAVERS' SXARES. 



53 



web by one who knew its characteristics.' In point of fact, we sliall see 

 that there are very striking differences in form and structure among tlie 

 snares spun by the Orbitelarise. In the following chapters these differences 

 will be pointed out and illustrated, and an attempt made to group and 



arrange the various snares in some natural order. I define an 

 Defined orbweb as a snare constructed of right lines radiating from a 



common centre, and crossed spirally, for the most part, by num- 

 erous circular lines, or lines forming arcs of circles. 



The round web of the Orbweaver probably deserves the distinction of 

 having given the popular name cobweb to the whole spinningwork of 

 spiders. One easily sees how the 

 Anglo Saxon word cop, a head, could 

 have been api)ropriately applied to 

 objects which, by their rotundity and 

 size, suggest the contour of the hu- 

 man face. 2 The orb is the figure 

 which quite unconsciously rises when 

 one speaks of the spider's web, an in- 

 dication that it is perhaps the most 

 striking, although it is by no means 

 the most common form of araneal ^lo. 48. a horizontal snare, fuii orbed. 



spinningwork. Nevertheless, all orbwebs are not round, as will be seen 

 hereafter, hence the qualified terms of the definition given abov.e. 



Orbwebs fall naturally into two great groups. Vertical Snares and 

 Horizontal Snares. In Vertical Snares the orb is habitually perpendicular 

 to the plane of the horizon, or nearly so. In Horizontal Snares 

 the orb is habitually parallel with the plane of the horizon, or 

 nearly or ap})roxiniately so. The normal [)Ositions of these 

 snares are as described, and they often appear thus in nature ; but loca- 

 tion compels more or less variation. The exigencies of construction fre- 

 quently force such an arrangement of foundation lines as inclines the orb 

 to the plane of the horizon more or less sharply. Thus it may occur 

 that a true vertical and a true horizontal web may be stretched upon 

 nearly the same plane. The careful observer, however, will rarely fail to 

 note and allow for the peculiarities of the site which cause these deflec- 

 tions, and easily give each web its proper classification. 



Vertical orbwebs may be arranged under four subdivisions: first, I^ill 

 Orb ; second, Sectoral Orb ; third, Ray or Actinic Orb ; fourth. Orb Sector. 



Great 

 Groups. 



^ For example, I have eollected, witlunit iimcli effort, (piite a nninher of samples of 

 wall paper, into whose i)atteriis the orhweb is intruduced, sliowiiiL' li"W favorite a liirure 

 this is in decorative art. ()rhwe1)s also aboniid in cinlirDidery and liammcnMl ware. 



2 The German has kdjif, tlic W'clsli ctil), and tiic < ireek kiv^'/, kuhe. Tin- word roli, how- 

 ever, has been a]>pli('(l to tlie s])idcr iHTseiC, as a nuinil or hcad-sliapcd olijcit. just as we 



{five the name "eol)l)le st<me " to houldcrs. 



