172 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



[1881. 



obliterated, a conclusion to which the spider herself very curiously 

 contributes. When an insect strikes the snare, as at fig. 10, ray 

 I (broken ray), Radiosa first " keys " the snare by twisting 

 together the foot-basket and the parts adjoining (C), including 

 the end of the trap-line. This maintains the compact condition 

 of the snare after the spider has left the central point at which 

 she has held all parts together in the manner heretofore described. 

 Then the insect is sought. Creeping along the axis of the ray 

 upon which is the entanglement, she cuts away the cross-lines as 

 she goes, leaving the bare skeleton of radii, as shown, fig. 10, I, 

 broken ray. The insect is then brought back to a point (D) near 

 the centre, but (in this case at least,) above it, where it is eaten. 



While the feast goes on, not 

 unmindful of future supplies, 

 the spider (S) clasps the ad- 

 joining axis and (C D) the 

 connecting lines, which appear 

 to be in condition for operating 

 somewhat in the usual way. 

 When the insect is eaten, the 

 former position is resumed, 

 the trap-line clasped, and the 

 net bowed and tightened. 



After a morning's trapping, 

 if the game has been plenty, 

 and generally towards the 



Fig, 10.— Kay spider. Action when an insect middle of the aftemOOn, Ra- 

 is taken. S, Spider; In, insect. t- i ■^^ -i x> ^ 



diosa's snare will be found 

 reduced to one or two rays or fragments of rays. I have seen it 

 reduced to a bare skeleton. In fig. 11, there are one ray (I), and 

 two fragments of two others united into a new ray, and these are 

 placed in opposite parts of the orb. Again, one-half of the orb 

 maybe eliminated (fig. 12), leaving two radii (i, ii) to operate with. 

 Radiosa was also observed to construct or adopt a new trap- 

 line, thus changing, so to speak, her base of operations. This 

 action is illustrated at fig. 12, where Ta is the original, and T6 

 the new trap-line. This is not a frequent occurrence, as the 

 necessity' for changing the original line does not appear to arise 

 frequently. 



