WEAVERS OF ROUND WEBS. 



121 



folium. The nests, moreover, were not as carefully formed as with those 

 species. Vertebrata makes its orb early in the evening, and thereafter 

 hangs to it })retty closely, unless disturbed. The traplines by which the 

 webs are connected Avitli the nests are much deltated at the point of 

 union with the hub, and diverge at the i)oint where they are united 

 with the nest. So that the spider, instead of clasping a single line as is 

 usual with Trifolium, really has its feet upon several lines. I have seen 

 this peculiarity in traplines of Domicile spiders that had spun on iron 

 fences. Vertebrata appears to be a very diligent weaver, working with 

 steadiness and energy at the daily renewal of her snare, until early Oc- 

 tober. She then begins to show less activity ; the sluggishness increases 

 rapidly, the webs are rarely renewed, and 

 soon the spiders disappear within the 

 leaves and die. 



Epeira displicata is an interesting little 



spider which makes a round web, usually 



somewhat inclined. I have found 



Epeira ^^ ^^^ ^^^y England, woven against 



, a leaf whose edges were curled 



up and formed the support for 



the foundation lines. I know little of its 



general habits, but it is distributed quite 



extensively throughout the United States. 



Among the most interesting of our 



spider fauna is that grouj) of the genus 



Epeira which may properly be 



^ termed the Angulata group, 



or Cross . . o e> i 



Spider '^^^^^ individuals are distinguished 

 by two i)rocesses, more or less de- 

 cided and pointed, upon the base or front 

 part of the dorsum of the abdomen. They 

 are situated near the margin and overhang the sides and the cephalotho- 

 rax. They are not hard or leathery like the spinous processes upon Acro- 

 soma and Gasteracantha, but have nearly the consistency of the abdominal 

 integument. To this group belongs the Diadem Spider, Epeira diademata, 

 so familiar in European landscapes, and known popularly as the Cross 

 Spider or Garden Spider. I have specimens of this species collected in the 

 United States, one as far to the north and west as Minnesotji. The spider 

 undoubtedly has found lodging upon our shores, probably as an importa- 

 tion by immigrants from Europe, but is very rare as yet. 



Others of this group are Epeira gemma, a fine large species, whidi 

 inhabits the Pacific slope, and as far eastward at least as Utah ; also 

 Ei)eira cinerea, a large gray species, in many respects reseml)ling E. gemma, 

 which ranges the Northern Atlantic slope and the Adirondack Mount- 



Fk;. 108. Snare of Epeira displicata. From 

 a sketch by Mr. Einerton. 



