IS'i AMICKICAN i^l'IDIOUS AND ■1111:111 SPINNINGWOUK. 



universal preference, for T fretjuently find the snare spread anions the 

 green needles of the pine hougiis and stretched amidst the green foliage 

 of other plants. The nest site is generally low tlown. I iiave rarely 

 noted it more than three or four feet ahove the surface of tlie eartli. 

 As the lower branches of pine trees are always dry, it would follow as 

 a necessity, without any special preference on the i)art of the spider, that 

 her habit of swinging her net low down would coinjiel her in such 

 positions to spin between dry limbs. 



The spider is probably distributed over a wide geographical area. 1 iiave 

 traced it from New England on tlie northeaist, from Maine to Massachu- 

 setts, through New York, New Jersey, as far south as the District 

 Distribu- ^^^. (^"^^imijiji;^ jjj^d Alabama. I have also taken it in Ohio, and 

 as far to the southwest as Texas. It thus shows a considerable 

 range of climatic extremes. It will probably be found wherever forests 

 of fir and pine flourish. 



Hyjitiotes is very small, being little over an eighth of an inch in body 

 lengtli, with rather short, stout legs. It is a dull grayish lu-own color, 

 with occasional brighter tints of red intermixed. It thus strongly resem- 

 bles the color of the branches 

 to which its snare is oftenest 



I X , , rtrff-^^friniHl '^"^^S- This identity of color 



' V WrV<rc^^0777T/ makes it difficult sometimes 



to find the animal ; but I can 

 hardly think that it presents 



F,G. 170. ZiUa plu. Hyptiotes equals Epeira. ^ ^^^^ ^f protective miiuicry, 



as does Mrs. Treat, who also concludes that Hyptiotes recognizes color, 

 and that its habitual resting place is a matter of intelligent choice.^ On 



the contrary, as I have just stated, it is supposable that the 

 General position is simply a matter of convenience, as it gives the best 

 Appear- .^jt^^^.]^j^^pj^t for tlie trapline of its peculiar web ; and, moreover, 



since the spider domiciles in all sorts and parts of shrubs, living 

 and dead, it is certainly reasonable to think that a bright green would 

 have been as great a protection to it as the (hill brown and gray wliicli 

 prevails. 



The appearance which the snare {)resents to the observer is that of a 

 circular sector, attached at the open or outer end to surrounding objects, 



and at the apex to a straight line of varying length, similarly 

 Construe- jvnehored. The number of radii is always four, never more nor 

 J^^° less, and in this number, of course, is included the two outside 



^V6D. 



rays. The two central railii are crossed by lines which may be 

 regarded as the equivalent of tiie spiral lines which intersect the radii in 

 ordinary orbwebs. The manner in which these several parts of tiie snare 

 are constructed will now be pointed out. 



' "Mv Garden Pets." 



