250 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XX, No. 7, 



thing which may help them to extract themselves. This species 

 like Metargiope, usually but not always builds a barrier web 

 on each side of the main one. Like Argiope trifasciata, to 

 which it is closely related, it makes the web firm by a stabili- 

 mentum which extends vertically through the center of the web. 



The webs are built in a great variety of places but are 

 preferably built in tall grass and among weeds. I have found 

 webs of this species in barns, in hay mows, and one in the cone 

 of the roof of an old log house where the spider was content to 

 remain for a month. Some are built in grain fields and a great 

 many in pastures. The webs are most abundant along ditches 

 which are overgrown with tall grass and weeds; and along 

 fences and in pasture land which has been allowed to become 

 overgrown with Boneset, Ironweed and similar plants and along 

 roadsides which have become overgrown with golden rod and 

 asters. In order to gain an estimate of the numbers of these 

 spiders, counts were made in these various locations and 

 repeated from time to time. 



Soon after the appearance of these spiders in early summer, 

 I counted the webs of thirty-six individuals on a single wild 

 rose bush, which measured ten by sixteen feet. The webs were 

 so numerous that often one which was built near the ground 

 was directly under another farther up in the bush. Such bushes 

 as this one seems to be one of the favorite places for the home 

 of this spider. At another place fourteen spiders were counted 

 in a fence corner which was sixteen feet long and four feet deep. 

 This was an exceptionally large number, but it is given to show 

 how numerous this spider is in some places. Along this rail 

 fence in a distance of thirty rods, one hundred and fifty-six 

 spiders were counted. A pasture field which bordered a woods 

 and contained one and one-half acres, was visited daily for 

 several weeks. This field was covered with tall grass, Boneset and 

 Ironweed. The spiders seemed to show a preference for building 

 their webs between Boneset stalks and on this account many 

 honey bees were captured. In making the count in this place 

 I walked up and down across it, taking a small strip each time, 

 about three feet wide. It will be seen that an accurate account 

 of a web-building species could be obtained in this way which 

 would be impossible in case of the Lycosids and other species 

 which wander from place to place. One count taken here gave 

 one hundred and forty spiders. Another count taken later on 



