BIOLOGICAL MISCELL 



Ar-i 



65 



Fig. 47. Sitting posi- 

 tion at the hub of a 

 snare. 



Mr. Workman says that the wonderful regularity of the circular snare 

 and the beautiful curve of the ascending tube, together with its perfect 

 adaptation to the means of supplying food and protection to its constructor 

 and her progeny, make it a most interesting object. He 

 justly compares the web to that of the Labyrinth spider 

 of Hentz, and the resemblance certainly is striking. But 

 the web of Epeira labyrintliea is always placed in a ver- 

 tical position. The retitelarian labyrinth is therefore 

 Ijeliind and at the side of the orb, instead of before it. 

 The thickly lined gangway between the tent and the centre 

 of the orb of Labyrintliea I have never seen developed 

 into a complete tube, such as Mr. Workman describes, 

 but it is often much thickened next the hub, and is apt 

 to assume a somewhat tubular form. At the tenting end, 

 however, the .spider frequently occupies a bell shaped silken 

 domicile. The reader in this connection is referred to Vol. I., Chapter XIX., 

 in which the tubiform web is referred to as being the rudimentary one 

 which appears more or less distinctly, and with greater or less development, 

 in the spinningwork of all the principal groups of spiders. Let the 

 reader compare Mi-. Workman's drawing of Epeira beccarii with my figui'es 

 of Agalena naevia (Vol. L, page 345, Fig. 336), or with examples of the 

 spider's funnel .shaped snare upon the hedges, lawns, 

 and fields of America. He will then observe that 

 by reversing M'^orkman's figure he has before him 

 substantially the outlines of Agalena's funnel shaped 

 snare. We thus have represented in the spinningwork 

 of this one species the typical webs of the three great 

 sectional groups : Orbweavers, Lineweavers, and Tube- 

 weavers. 



III. 



Orbweavers are sometimes seen as represented at 

 Figs. 47 and 48, in an attitude which might prop- 

 erly be called sitting within their hub. 



Fig. 48. Epeira sitting upon 

 a broken hub. 



th H b '^^^ upper part of the central meshes is 

 usually removed, and the abdomen is thrust 



tln'ough the opening, and is supported by the remain- 

 ing meshwork against which the venter rests. The hind legs are extended 

 ujiward, and hang upon the margin of the opening, while the fore feet 

 are more closely approximated and clasp the margin at its lower part. 

 The radial lines are centred upon these fore feet, thus giving the spider 

 full command of her nest. The moment an insect strikes the orb the 

 spider draws up her abdomen, and with inconceivable rapidity spreads out 

 her legs, straightens out her body, and faces towards the direction from 

 which the agitation of the web had been signaled. 



