BIOLOGICAL MISCELLANY. 



65 



Fig. 47. Sitting posi- 

 tion at the hub of a 

 snare. 



Mr. ^^^ol■knla^ 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 labyrinthea is always placed in a ver- 

 tical position. The retitelarian labyrinth is therefore 

 behind 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 Labyrinthea 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., Chai)ter XIX., 

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

 whictt-.-4ppears more or less distinctly, and with greater or less development, 

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

 reader compare Mr. AVorkman's drawing of Epeira beccarii with my figures 

 of Agalena ntevia (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 Workman's figure he has before him 

 substantially the outlines of Agalena's funnel shaj^ed 

 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. 



HI. 



Orbweavers are sometimes seen as represented at 

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

 erly be called sitting within their hub. 

 Sittmg m ,pj^'g ^^_^pg^. ^^^j.^. ^^ ^j^g central meshes is 



Fig. 48. Epeira sitting upon 

 a broken hub. 



the Hub. 



usually removed, and the abdomen is thrust 

 through the opening, and is supported by the remain- 

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

 upward, 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 tlie agitation of the web had been signaled. 



