22 AMKRICAN SriDEKS AND flllClK SI'INNINGWOKK. 



aiiis.i 'J\i tlie same fjroup belong Emerton's Epeira sylvatica, and my E. 

 bicentennai-ia. Tlie species are closely related to each other and to the 

 Enrojjean Ejieira angulata and E. bicornis. Systematists may 

 Angu a a j-,gj.gj^f^p,. ^^^^■^\^. them all into two or three species. The hal)its of 

 the entire gronp, as jvidged l)y the species which I have stuclie<l, 

 are like those of Insnlaris and Trifolinm as above described. They ilweli 

 in silken tents or nests of rolled leaves, and spin webs of the type shown 

 at Figs. 101 and 107. 



Epeira stellata is remarkable for the formation of its abdomen. Around 

 the sides are inserted a number of spines, one of which projects promi- 

 nently over tlie ceiilialdtluirax, which gives the creature a striking and 

 weird appearance. 1 have taken it, especially the yonng, in Pennsylvania. 

 New .Jersey, and Connecticut. In the last named State numbers of tlu; 

 species were seen occu[)ying orbicular snares, whicli were si)un low u|i(iii 

 grass, ferns, and golden rods on the margin of a meadow near a stone 

 fence. They were of the general type of that grou]) of 

 which Epeira strix is a representative. The spiders hung 

 at the centre witli legs bunched up against the body, the 

 half grown individuals looking like seeds of certain plants. 

 The dull grays and grayish browns of its color helped to 

 vW make it inconspicuous against the background of the brown- 



Fii;. los. i-igurc of iug foliagc ou which their snares were spun. At the least 

 mafe!'"'"'""*''''^'" disturbance the spider dropped suddenly to the ground, or 

 ran for refuge to the foliage at one end of the web.- 

 Among the Orbweavers constructing full vertical orljs is (iasteracantha, 

 a spider whoso remarkal)le shape has attracted tlie attention of many ob- 

 servers. Fig. 100. I have received numerous specimens of (iaster- 

 , acantha cancer, and perhajJS several varieties of the same, from 

 Mrs. Rosa Smith Eigenmann, which were collected in the neigh- 

 Ijorhood of San Diego, California. On the Mesa land near the Mu,s.sel 

 Beds, and also along the bay shore in that vicinity, a great number of 

 specimens were found. The orbs of the spider were usually spread at a 

 considerable angle, occasionally nearly horizontal, and sometimes almost 





'It was first made known by me in the Aead. Nat. Sci. Phila., under tlie name K]ieira 

 harrison;p, after the lady from whcjm Mrs. Mary Treat (who sent me specimens) reeeivecl it. 

 Emerton sub.-iecjuently gave a det^iiled description ami olitained [iriority. 



"The measurements of one snare of an individual about half grown are given as fol- 

 lows: Orb, ()i X 6.V inches in dimensions. Central space, IJ x U. Notched zone and huh, 

 3 inch in diameter, of which the hub itself was j\ inch. The not<-hed zone contained 8 

 spirals. The hub was slightly meshed. From the notched zone to the spiral space the dis- 

 tance was i inch. The interspaces between the la.st .S spirals of the notched zone were 

 much larger than tho.se of the rest of the series, being r's inch. The spiral space itself cov- 

 ered from 3 to :U inches. The radii numbered .'5.'). The sjiirals were 2() below, 20 above, 

 and 21 at the sides of the hub. Another wel)'wii.s b inches in diameter, and was nearly 

 round in shai)e ; had 18 radii and IS to 19 spirals. 



