Superfamily Argiopoidea 



sponding to the spiral guy-line of other orb-weavers like the viscid 

 line, is looped back and forth and remains a permanent part of the 

 web. Its attachment to the web is of a much more firm nature 

 than is that of the spiral guy-line of other orb-weavers where its 

 use is limited to the short period of construction of the web. As 

 it crosses each radius it is united with it for a short distance in a 



Fig. 441. NEPHILA CLAVIPES, SECTION OF WEB SLIGHTLY ENLARGED 



way similar to that in which the spiral guy-line of other orb- 

 weavers is attached to the radii in the notched zone. This is 

 well-shown in Fig. 441. As this guy-line is pulled taut it draws 

 the radius out of its direct course. By reference to Fig. 441 

 it will be seen that the direction of these notches alternate in the 



430 



