The Banded Epeira 



Straight threads radiate at equal intervals 

 from a central point. Over this framework, 

 runs a continuous spiral thread, forming 

 chords, or crossbars, from the centre to the 

 circumference. It is magnificently large and 

 magnificently symmetrical. 



In the lower part of the web, starting from 

 the centre, a wide opaque ribbon descends 

 zigzag-wise across the radii. This is the 

 Epeira's Trade-mark, the flourish of an artist 

 initialing his creation. ''Fecit So-and-So,' she 

 seems to say, when giving the last throw of 

 the shuttle to her handiwork. 



That the Spider feels satisfied when, after 

 passing and repassing from spoke to spoke, 

 she finishes her spiral, is beyond a doubt : the 

 work achieved ensures her food for a few 

 days to come. But, in this particular case, the 

 vanity of the spinstress has naught to say to 

 the matter: the strong silk zigzag is added to 

 impart greater firmness to the web. 



Increased resistance is not superfluous, for 

 the net is sometimes exposed to severe tests. 

 The Epeira cannot pick and choose her 

 prizes. Seated motionless in the centre of 

 her web, her eight legs widespread to feel 

 the shaking of the network in any direction, 



81 



