182 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



universal preference, for I frequently find the snare spread among the 

 green needles of the pine boughs and stretched amidst the green foliage 

 of other plants. The nest site is generally low down. I have rarely 

 noted it more than three or four feet above the surface of the earth. 

 As the lower branches of pine trees are always dry, it would follow as 

 a necessity, without any special preference on the i)art of the spider, that 

 her habit of swinging her net low down would compel her in such 

 positions to spin between dry limbs. 



The spider is probably distributed over a wide geographical area. I have 

 traced it from New England on the northeast, from Maine to Massachu- 

 setts, through New York, New Jersey, as far south as the District 

 jjistriDu- ^£ QQim-^^i^ia and Alabama. I have also taken it in Ohio, and 

 as far to the southwest as Texas. It thus shows a considerable 

 range of climatic extremes. It will probably be found wherever forests 

 of fir and pine flourish. 



Hyptiotes is very small, being little over an eighth of an inch in body 

 length, with rather short, stout legs. It is a dull grayish brown color, 

 with occasional brighter tints of red intermixed. It thus strongly resem- 

 bles the color of the branches 

 to which its snare is oftenest 

 , \ / frf+z^-o^p-mnii h^ii^g- This identity of color 



makes it difficult sometimes 

 to find the animal ; but I can 

 hardlv think that it presents 



Fig. 170. Zilla plus Hyptiotes equals Epeira. ^ ^^^^ ^f protective miiuicry, 



as does Mrs. Treat, who also concludes that Hyptiotes recognizes color, 

 and that its habitual resting place is a matter of intelligent choice. ^ On 



the contrary, as I have just stated, it is supposablo that the 



General position is simply a matter of convenience, as it gives tlie best 



ppea - attachment for the trapline of its peculiar web ; and, moreover, 



since the spider domiciles in all sorts and i)arts of shrubs, living 

 and dead, it is certainly reasonable to think that a bright green would 

 have been as great a protection to it as the dull brown and gray which 

 prevails. 



The appearance which the snare presents to the observer is that of a 

 circular sector, attached at the open or outer end to surrounding objects, 



and at the apex to a straight line of varying length, similarly 

 Construe- anchored. The number of radii is always four, never more nor 

 .^^ , less, and in this number, of course, is included the two outside 



rays. The two central radii are crossed by lines which may be 

 regarded as the equivalent of the s})iral lines which intersect the radii in 

 ordinary orbwebs. The manner in which these several parts of the snare 

 are constructed will now be pointed out. 



1 " My Garden Pets." 



