114 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



whose basal extremities touch the united radii, the apical ends being con- 

 verged within the claw. (Figs. 102, 103.) Thus the agitation made at any 

 point of the snare is communicated through the radii to the feet, made 

 extremely sensitive by the numerous delicate hairs and spines which 

 clothe them. The eight claws of the spider, each one of which is in 

 communication with three, four or more converged radii, together com- 

 mand the whole number of radii, and through them also the 

 interwoven spirals. By this arrangement Madam Arachne, like 

 a good housewife, may be said to have the whole of her house- 

 hold establishment literally "under her thumb." 

 The Orbweaver while thus in waiting is chiefly supported by the 

 claws, and apparently by those of the hind feet. But the spinnerets also 

 aid in maintaining the weight, by means of a thread or threads which 

 may be seen issuing from them and attached to the hub beneath by a 



minute wdiite dot of silk. 



Under 



Her 



Thumb. 



The frequent formation of 

 these attachments, as Menge 

 has observed of Epeira di- 

 ademata, on the return from 

 her various excursions after 

 insects or on liousekeeping 

 duties, sometimes causes the 

 hub to be dotted over by 

 white specks, especially in 

 the region underneath the 

 spinnerets. This is espe- 



FiG. 103. Feet of Orbweaver while in position at the hub, to show cially ai^parCllt Oil a tllinlv 

 the radiating footlines. i i i i i r k 



sheeted hub oi Argiope. 

 The Furrow spiders, like others of their genus, are found near running 

 streams and still water, where the congregations of insects are usually 

 largest. I have seen multitudes of them upon tlie railings of 

 Natural ^^le old Gray's Ferry Bridge over the Schuylkill before the rest- 

 Snares ^^^^ innovations of human creatures had set up the new struct- 

 ure ; and on the famous Long Bridge over the l*otomac at Wash- 

 ington they were domiciled in legions. This species will often be found 

 upon the shrubbery and trees of yards, lawns, and orchards, and in such 

 locations frequently selects a site for her snare which forms for it a beau- 

 tiful background of leaves, tendrils, and flowers. Such an example is Fig. 

 104, snares spun among lilies and sprigs of coxcomb in a flower garden in 

 Eastern Ohio. But more than some others of the especial group to which 

 she belongs Strix is a wood s})ider. I have often found lier in forests, 

 groves, and fields, building upon tlic branches and nesting among the foli- 

 age. In color Strix varies much ; the young sjiecimens are often found 

 quite black; in maturity the i)revailing color is yellowish, with reddish 



