132 



AMERICAN SPIDEKS AND THEIR Sl'lNNINGWORK. 



Uses of 

 Laby- 

 rinth. 



twelve indies wide, twelve inclics lii^li, seven inches deep. The shnpi' and size 

 are of course nioditied, ;is witli all wehs, hy the particular features of the site. 

 Tliere is a decided space between the labyrinth and the orb, except 

 that the orb is, with rare exceptions, attached above by its foundation 

 lines to the labyrinth. This is seen in the side view shown at Fig. 116. 

 The spider is there nested under one of her cocoons. The side attachment 

 of the orb is apt to be upon some of the long guy lines by which the laby- 

 rinth is held in form. It generally extends downward as far as the middle, 

 or a little below the middle point of the orb. 



The maze serves its little proprietor and factor 

 the following uses : First, it is environment and 

 sup})ort for her tent ; second, it gives convenient 

 points of suspension for her orb ; third, 

 it provides a safe and convenient nur- 

 sery within which to hang her cocoons ; 

 and, fourth, proves an admirable field 

 upon which the j'oung can find exercise and for- 

 age. I liave seen the little fellows, late in the 

 season, scramliling up and down among the inter- 

 lacing lines, picking out here and there minute 

 entangled insects. Fifth, the labyrinth serves as 

 a true snare as well as domicile for the adult 

 spider, for I have seen her capturing small insects 

 that had been caught within the maze, cutting 

 through the lines for that purpose. Her cliief 

 dependence for food is, liowever, upon the orb. 

 Moreover, sixth, the labyrinth must have value as 

 a protective environment for the occupant against 

 raiding mud dauber wasps and other enemies, and 

 for her cocoons against various parasitizing foes, since the tangle of crossed 

 lines certainly raises a formidable barrier against approach of winged in- 

 sects. It might be added, seventh, that in the pairing season the males 

 appropriate the labyrinth for purjjoses of temi)orar3' rest in their gradual 

 approach when courting the female. They i>ull down the lini's by their feet 

 as they hang back downward until they form the ribs of a sort of araneal 

 groined arch. I have seen three males hanging upon one web at the .same 

 time. Labyrinthea rarely makes great changes in this portion of her snare, 

 althovigh the orb, as is usual with Epeiroids, requires frequent 

 Strength j-enewal. Indeed, the maze has greater natural strength than the 

 orb, for I have observed that winds and showers which had com- 



FiG. 116 Side view of Labyriuthea's 

 snare, to show tlie space between 

 orb and snare. 



of the 



Laby 



rinth Jiletely beaten down and dissolved the latter did nut affect the 



former, and in such cases the occupant abode within her reti- 



telarian bounds for a day or two without re])roducing tiie orbweb.^ 



' On this point see further in the cliapter on Engineering Skill. 



