20 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



In other species the conditions of male spinningwork are different. For 

 example, I found, ^ in a grove of young oak trees, a number of males of 

 Epeira insularis established in nests, and with perfect orbs spread 

 Snare and i^e^eath them. The nests were well sewed, and like those of 

 y^ , the females, which were numerous in the vicinity. The orbs 



Insularis. were also perfect, and of the typical sort. These males were 

 mature ; some had their nests built close to those of females, 

 upon whom they were evidently in attendance. In several cases two and 

 three males were seen in the same neighborhood, occupying nests or hang- 

 ing about the margins of the same female's snare. 



One male of Argiope cophinaria was found on the same day (Avigust 

 28tli), which had spun a tolerably perfect snare twelve inches behind the 

 orb of a mature female. This snare had twenty-eight radii and nine 

 spirals, and the flanks were protected by wings or fenders of the tyi)ical 

 sort heretofore described. ^ Thus, there appears to be a striking difference 

 in the character of the web made by the male of this species and that 

 woven by the male Insularis. In Cophinaria the orb is certainly not per- 

 fect after tlie type of the species, but in Insularis it appears in every re- 

 spect to conform to the type, as does also the leafy nest or tent. It may 

 be added, as perhaps throwing some light upon such a difference, that the 

 male Insularis is a larger and more formidable animal than the male 

 Cophinaria, and relatively much more equal in size and strength to his 

 mate. 



III. 



The first stages of courtship have already been indicated. Having found 



the snare of his partner, the male Orbweaver stations himself upon the 



outer border and awaits results. It is not difficult for him to 



First communicate his presence. Indeed, he must take his place deftly 



ages o ^^^^ keep it quietly ujjon the snare, or he will quickly bring 



ship. down upon him the voracious lady of the house. A touch of 



his claw upon a radius would telegraph to the female the fact 



of his presence; and I believe, from what I have seen of the operations 



of the male in this preliminary courtship, as well as from the recorded 



observations of others,^ that he does thus intimate his i^resence, and that 



the first stages of the engagement are consummated by these telegrai:)hic 



communications back and forth between male and female over the delicate 



filaments of the silken snare. 



If matters be favorable, the male draws nearer, usually by short ap- 

 proaches, renewing the signals at the halting places. Sometimes this pre- 

 liminary stay is brief ; sometimes it is greatly prolonged. I have known 

 it to be continued during several days, in which the male would patiently 



' August 28th, Niantic, Connecticut. ' Vol. I., chapter vi., page 105, Fig. 96. 



^ See the statements of Walckenaer, Menge, and Emerton, further on. 



