AMEKICAX SI'IDKKS A M i I'lIlOIK SPINNING WUKK. 



Knim soiin' point in tliis lirst line, as d, the spider makes an attaelnuent 

 and droi)s down, paying out her tliread as she goes, until she reaches the 

 ground or touches the first ohject directly underneath her. If the air is 

 ([uite still and the spider large, the line will be nearly perpendicular, as d dd. 

 It will vary more or less from tlu' perpendicular according to the spider's 

 weight and the wind's force. 



'J'his vertical line, d dd, is lashed to the grass, foliage, or other ()l)jcct, 

 and then is reascended to a point, o, where an attachment is made and a 

 lu'w line begun. This is held out in one of the hind feet quite free from the 



Fi<;. 67. Laying foundation lines by air currents. (First lines.) 



dropline, d dd, as the ascent is continued. The new free line (the dotted 

 line odce) is thus carried up dd and along ex to the point e, where it is 

 fastened, after having been drawn tavit. This last act pulls out the line dd 

 until o reaches the point oo, and tlir d('|)orted (dotted) line, o d e thus be- 

 comes the line, e oo. There is then completed the triangle, ed oo, within 

 which till! spider at once proceeds to spin her orb. When a four sided 

 frame is spun instead of the three sided one licir illustrated, i)recisely the 

 same method is jiursued, the line eb oo being simply carried farther around 

 and down the bush until it forms the lower boundary of a trapezoid, and 

 is parallel to ecx. 



