WEAVERS OE ROUND WEBS. 



117 



trivittata were found with a like peculiarity in Connecticut. Yet, I cannot 

 regard it as other than incidental. 



One might indulge the conjecture that this accidental feature of a 

 snare of Epeira offers a clue to the reason for the permanent features of 

 a like character upon the webs of Argiope, Acrosoma, and Uloborus. The 

 difference or differences which have caused the characteristics to become 

 fixed in the last named genera are at present unknown. I venture only 

 to suggest that my observation shows that these genera quite habitually 

 remain upon their orbs ^^^^^^^^^^^^_ continually, whereas the 

 Domicile spider and her ^^^SS^S^^^H congeners usually retire 

 from their orbs in day ^^H^l||«j|*i|^^| time, and have nests or 

 dens to which they can ^^^HK^£jk^^^| resort in foul weather or 

 in case of attack. I have ^^IhsBIK^SS^H frequently found Domi- 

 cile in a leafy tent, but ^^PSifiHikV^M^I oftener without one; her 

 habit in this respect ^Vfli|^H|iwS^H seems to coimect Sclope- 

 taria whom I have never HQIHRlsSlil^^iSI seen in suoli an abode, 



FliT. 106. Nest and snare of Epeira insularis. 



and Insularis who is always so found. On one occasion while driving 

 along a New Jersey road, I observed an orb web sjDun upon the tall grass 

 beneath a young tree. The foundation lines and supports reached upwards 

 to the lowest branch, about twelve feet above the surface. Having climbed 

 out upon the branch I observed a spider nested within a curled leaf and 

 holding to a trapline that extended entirely to the orb beneath, the longest 

 trapline I remember ever to have seen. The nest was collected and the 



occupant proved to be Domiciliorum. Closely related to the Dom- 

 + ^^-"ff t icile Spider is Epeira trivittata. The two are very similar in gen- 



eral appearance and markings, the latter, however, being some- 

 what smaller. Their webs and general habits are the same. 



