82 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



it is rare. It seems to be less fond of human society, or else less able 

 to stand the exigencies of civilization than Cophinaria. In outlj'ing 



sections, where Nature lias been less disturbed 

 by men, it may probably be found more readily. 

 It is suspended by means of silken guys to the 

 leaves and stalks of grass or low growing plants, 

 which are bent over and also lashed together 

 above the swinging egg nest in the manner rep- 

 resented at Fig. 47. Again, it may be found as 

 at Fig. 48, swung in the midst of a retitelarian 

 maze woven amidst the branches and leaves of a 

 l)ush, or, as at Fig. 49, seated and suspended in 

 the crotches of a wild meadow flower. 



The shape of her cocoon differs from Coph- 

 inaria's in being hemispheroidal instead of pyri- 

 form ; in other words, it resembles the lower half 

 of a s2:)heroid. Across the wide top is stretched a 

 circular piece of silk, like the head of an Indian 

 drum. (Fig. 50.) The outer case is of stiff yellow 

 silk, as is also the head or top ; this part, in a 

 cocoon now before me, is somewhat darker in color 

 than the rest of the case. A marginal flap sur- 

 rounds the head, and has various points to which 

 guy lines were attached in site. (See Fig. 50.) The height and width of the 

 cocoon are about the same — one-half inch. When the outer case is cut aside, 

 as at Fig. 51, the interior is seen to con- 

 sist, first, of a yellow flossy envelope, 

 which is packed between the inner wall ; 

 and, second, an egg pad, which is not 

 composed of 2>urple silk as in Cophinaria, 

 but of yellow silk plush loosely woven, 

 and is three-eighths of an inch long. 

 Within this are the eggs. Immediately 

 above is the egg cover of white silk 

 plush, which is commonly fiat, not con- 

 cave as with Cojihinaria. It is about 

 one-eighth inch thick, and is attached 

 firmly by silken threads to the inside 

 of the top of the case. Against this 



cover, no doubt, the eggs are oviposited Fig. 48. CocoonofArglopeargyTaspis, suspended 

 , , , , amidst supporting cross lines upon a bush. 



upwards, and are tlien covered by the 



mother spider. The portion of the egg cover is shown at Fig. 51, where 

 one edge adheres to the remaining part of the top of the case, and also 

 at Fig. 52, where the object is viewed from the side. 



Fig. 47. Banded Argiope's cocoon 

 beneath a canopy of leaves and 

 grass tops. 



