WEAVERS OF ROUND WEBS. 



115 



rings upon the legs, and bands upon the cephalothorax. I have some 



adults with whitish abdomens. 



Epeira sclopetaria (Ep. vulgaris Hentz), the gray Cross spider, I have 



not found abundant in wooded spots, but more frequently near bodies of 

 water. Immense colonies are domiciled near and upon the boat- 

 houses, taverns, and outhouses at the inlets and boat landings of 

 Atlantic City and Cape May, N. J. They grow to great size, 

 feeding upon the swarms of green head flies and other insects 



that frequent tliose places. The cellars, open and latticed spaces under the 



Epeira 

 sclope- 

 taria. 



porches, stables, and out- 

 houses of the cottages and 

 hotels of these watering 

 places are also favorite 

 resorts. The proprietors 

 would do well to encourage 

 their 2)resence and propaga- 

 tion as at least some check 

 upon the flies and mosqui- 

 toes. 



In South Carolina, where 

 Hentz first observed tlie spe- 

 cies, she is seldom found 

 far from the gardens. This 

 partiality to human homes 

 he supposed due to the ad- 

 ditional safety thus afford- 

 ed from the terrible Sphex, 

 though on what ground I 

 cannot conceive. In South 

 Carolina she is subject to 

 such variations in color and 

 markings that it is c^uite 

 difficult to distinguish be- 

 tween these and several 

 other species. Hentz once 



found in the nest of a mud dauber (wasj)) seventeen variations of this spe- 

 cies, each differing more or less from the others. In this latitude (Philadel- 

 phia) I find no such difference as to color, which is a quite uniform gray; 

 but there is some tendency to variations in tlie markings of the abdomen, 

 especially among the young. The species is distributed ^ from South Caro- 

 lina northward to Maine, and westward through New York and Pennsylvania 

 to Wisconsin, including Canada, at least along the St. Lawrence River. 



' Of course in all these allusions to geographical distribution it is understood that tlie 

 reference is to that known by the author to date. 



Fig. 104. Snare of Epeira strix among the lilies. 



