12-4 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THKIK SPINNIN(i\V()KK. 



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and of the orb witliin tlie triangular foundation lines. The other details 

 are only approximately accurate. 



My notes do not show the complete form of the web, but Mrs. Eigen- 

 raann's observations abundantly establish the fact that the orb of Gaster- 

 acantha has the notched zone and free space as is the case with the webs 

 of Epeira, which it closely resembles. None of the California webs, how- 

 ever, had anything like the tufted decorations which I observed in the 

 Texas individual. Whether or not other examples in the same vicinity 

 exhibit the peculiarity which I have described I am not able to say.^ 



The interest in the problem here presented is much increased, although 



the problem itself is brought little nearer solution, by facts concerning the 



snares of this genus recorded by M. Vinson.^ He observed the 



African gjinie characteristic noticed by me in the Texas examj)le, in the 



peoies ^,p|jg Qf Gasteracantha bourbonica of certain African islands. 

 Tufted. . . , , • T 



This spider spnis a vertical web a metre or more in diameter. 



The snare is often suspended across the path in forests. The threads are 



different from those of other spiders ; they show little cottony tufts (ren- 



flcments cottoneux) distributed at intervals, but finite nearly approached. 



The spider hangs at the centre. She is active when she moves ; but when 



one touches her she throws herself from her place, holding on by her 



thread, Ijy the aid of which she is able to replace herself upon her snare. 



In another i«vrt of liis book M. Vinson records the same observation 

 in this language : The Gasteracantha; of the Isle of Reunion introduce 

 into the variously stretched lines [foundation lines|, in the midst of which 

 they establish their regular nets, a finishing-up ("confection") altogether 

 special. As these lines are isolated, quite separated one from another, 

 they are differently wrought from those of the interior net, and show at 

 .short intervals little cottony puffs (" renflements ") which cause them to 

 appear as though interrupted from point to point. These puffs give the 

 web, of necessity, very great strength and elasticity.^ 



The same author, however, introduces another observation upon this 

 species, which brings us face to face with the same curious diversity, if 

 not divergence, in the habit which I have .shown in the Gas- 

 Webs teracanthse of our country. M. Vinson declares that the Gas- 

 ™ „. teracanthie of Madagascar, which are both larger and more 



numerous than those of Reunion, do not follow the custom of 

 decorating their webs with cottony tufts as do those of the last named is- 

 land, but spin their vertical snares in a manner altogether similar to tliose 

 of the common Epeira. 



' As I was at the time intent upon the study of the natural history of the aprirultural 

 ants, I was ronipclled, often at frrcat sacrifice of my feelings, to resist the attractions every- 

 where around me to oliserve and geek out ttie habits i)f the spider fMUiia. 



^ Araneides de la Reunion, Maurice, et Madagascar, i)age 2.'5S. 



^ Up. cit., Introduction, page xvii. 



