176 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



Uloborus mammeatus in Texas. They formed interesting and beautiful ex- 

 amples of this character of spinningwork, which is more easily illustrated 

 than described. Fig. 163 represents one web. The upper ribbons, travers- 

 ing nearly the entire area of the hub, were very much the same as the 

 last described, except that on one side the spinningwork was greatly 

 thickened at the termination, giving a club shaped appearance. On each 

 of the other sides of the hub were thrown two parallel semicircular bands 

 slightly separated from each other. In another snare, represented very im- 

 perfectly, indeed, at Fig. 164, the longitudinal bands were lacking, but in- 

 stead of them a series of four or five circular bands encompassed the hub. 

 My sketches, taken upon the spot, do not show that these bands were con- 

 centrics, though I have been inclined to think that such might have been 

 the case. At one side of this orb was stretched a ladder like structure lead- 

 ing from the hub to the outer foundation lines. This was a very peculiar 



Use of 

 Decora- 

 tions. 



Fi(j. 163. Decorated orb of Uloborus mammeatus. 



formation, and reminded me somewhat of the zigzag band characteristic of 

 Argiope cophinaria, but the rounds were not continuous as with that spider. 

 The purpose of these ribbons I have never been able to determine 

 satisfactorily. I have called them decorative, not because I imagine 

 that the purpose of the spider in placing them upon her 

 web is in anywise analogous to the human sentiment ex- 

 pressed by that word, but simply as a convenient term to in- 

 dicate the character of the spinningwork as it presented itself to 

 my own mind. Certainly it did greatly enhance the beauty of the deli- 

 cate structure. It is probable that these decorative ribbons or bands serve 

 to protect the spider herself, and may also be of service in strengthening 

 the web. But I have sufficiently expressed my o{)inion on this subject 

 when treating of the snare of Argiope. (Chapter VI.) 



No one who has studied with ariy care the spinningwork of the Orbi- 

 telariaj can doubt that the web of Uloborus is that of a genuine Orb- 

 weaver. In its round shape ; in the arrangement of lines radiating from 



