228 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



phenomena as one would decide upon the behavior of his fellow man, one 

 is not astray in attributing to the spider a rvide sort of intentional en- 

 gineering skill. Is it any less worthy of this title because exercised with 

 seeming unconsciousness and without a moment's hesitation or apparent 

 reflection of any sort? 



In the same direction look the facts which I have recorded in the 

 chapter on the construction of webs (Chapter IV.), under the head of 



alternate apposition of the radii. Indeed, it may be said truly, 



Alternate ^i^,^^ jj-^ ^^q entire work of laying out the foundations of an orb 



■?^°' f and placing in the radii, regard is had continually to the proper 



Radii adjustment of the various parts, with view to their counterpoise 



and adequate support beneath the weight of the operative. One 

 side is balanced against another side, one line is stayed by its opposite, 

 and so from part to part the spider moves, evidently to keep lier orb 

 entirely balanced until it is completed. 



The manner in which the ends of the radii, which terminate upon 

 the hub, are wrapped round about and braced by the notched zone ; the 



manner in which the wide nonviscid spiral scaffold lines are 

 T ^^\?^ X woven in order to give vantage ground from which to place 



in the close lying and permanent viscid spirals, upon which 

 the usefulness of the orb depends — all these, to mention no other points, 

 seem to indicate a very delicate perception of tliose modes (shall I also 

 say principles ?) of construction which are continually recognized in the 

 art of the builder, the architect, and the engineer. The examples of vari- 

 ous orders of spinningwork which I have given above have been grouped 

 in this chapter to give the force of assembled and consecutive illustra- 

 tion to the inquiry as to the intellectual quality of araneal architecture. 

 In point of fact, the special industries detailed in the various chapters, 

 and notably the two on Nesting Habits, will furnish illustrations of equal 

 aptitude and force. 



