THE EAY SPIDER AND HER SNARE. 205 



tute of the calamistrum and cribellum, which are alwaj's associated with 

 this character of spinningwork, it was hardly possible that the spiral arma- 

 ture could have been of this sort. However, I was not able to testify on 

 the subject with that assurance which seemed to me desirable. It is cer- 

 tainly possible for one to be deceived by even an ordinarily careful exam- 

 ination. The webs of Theridiosoma are so habitually placed in 



roun s ^Ij^j.], cavities and shaded locations, and in positions that often 

 for Doubt. . 



extremely embarrass the observer, that on this ground alone one 



would be liable to mistake. Again, I have often noticed that even the 

 simple lines of Theridium will be found covered with particles of dust 

 and the spherical grains of pollen, which at a casual glance present very 

 much the appearance of beads. More than once I have been drawn into 

 a second and third examination by this deceiving resemblance. Moreover, 

 I had limited my original examination to the use of a hand lens, and had 

 not made the more careful microscojnc test which would have placed tlie 

 matter beyond doubt. I therefore resolved to reexamine the subject before 

 a final expression of opinion. 



An opportunity to do so did not present until the 8th of July, LSS9. 

 In the vicinity of Wallingford, Pennsylvania, in a shaded ravine covered 

 with a wild growth of natural 

 plants that overhang a stream of K 



clear running spring water (Doe's 

 Run), I found a number of this 

 species, and made a thorough 

 study of the point in question. I 

 took with me apparatus by which 



nOrtionS of the web could be Sep- ^^^- ^^^- Beaded spirals on the suare of Theridiosoma 

 -, 1,1 • gemmosum. (Magnified.) 



arated and placed under the micro- 

 scope. Thus tested, in three separate snares, I was able to determine l>e- 

 yond doubt that the spiral line of Theridiosoma is precisely like that of 

 Epeira. The beads upon several strings, that is, the several portions be- 

 tween two radii, were counted, in one case numbering sixty-four. I was 

 able to make satisfactory drawings of these beads, Fig. 199. 



The behavior of the web upon the frames and glass cups was pre- 

 cisely like that of Epeira, the beads melting upon the surface of the 



glass, and the string remaining as a simple line in the midst of 

 The Spir- ^j^g viscid mass. The beads reflected light ; in appearance ex- 

 tj.f ^^^ actly resembled those of Ejieira, and in some cases the cord upon 



which they were attached was distinctly seen running through 

 them. Further, I examined portions of the snare upon which small insects 

 had been caught, and these showed in every respect the manner of entan- 

 glement which I have so frequently observed with the true Orbweavers. 

 (Fig. 200.) Previous to removing the sections from the webs, I tested 

 them with the tip of a blade of grass, to which the lines adhered very 



