162 



these specimens, Mr. Nathan Banks writes me that they are "young, 

 not fully colored, but probably Liobunum politum Weed." 



\\ eed ('91) reports that this rather rare species occurs in fields 

 and forests, and is seldom found about buildings. He has found it 

 among river driftwood, and says ('92a, p. 267) : "It sometimes oc- 

 curs under boards in fields, and is often swept from grass and low 

 herbage." When disturbed it emits, as do others of its family, a 

 liquid with a pungent odor. Weed ('91) has made some observa- 

 tions on its breeding habits. He notes that in confinement it ate 

 plant-lice. 



L. formosum Wood was taken by me upon the lodged drift- 

 wood of a small brook on the border of a forest at White Heath, 

 111.. May 4. 191 1. (Xo. 505. CCA.) This species, according to 

 Weed ('89, p. 92), hibernates as an adult. 



Araxeida 



Epeirid^; 



Argiope aurantia Lucas {=riparia Hentz). Common Garden Spider. 

 (PI. XXXVII, figs. 1 and 2.) 

 This is very abundant, and the most conspicuous spider on the 

 prairie. Found among the prairie grasses (Sta. I, g) Aug. 8 and 12 

 (X"os. 6 and 39) ; in its web among goldenrod, Solidago (Sta. I), 

 Aug. 12 (No. 26); among the swamp grasses (Sta, I, a) Aug. 28 

 ( Xo. 179); and among Blymus (Sta. I, c) Aug. 24 (No. 153); 

 from sweepings made in the colony of Lepachxs pinnata (Sta. I, e) 

 Aug. 12 (No. 40) ; and on the Loxa prairie (Sta. II) Aug. 13 (No. 

 49), Aug. 27 (No. 178). and Aug. 28 (No. 179); in an open 

 area in the upland Bates woods (Sta. IV, a) Aug. 17 (No. 93); 

 and in an open glade in the lowland forest (Sta. IV, c) Aug. 22 

 (Xo. 143). In its webs in the swamp-milkweed colony (Sta. I, d) 

 Aug. 9 the large dragon-fly Libcllula puleJiclla Drury was found en- 

 trapped ; a grasshopper, Mclanoplus differentialis Thomas, was also 

 found entrapped (Sta. I, a) Aug. 28 (No. 179) ; and a large butter- 

 flv. Papilio polyxenes Fabr., was discovered (Sta. I, d) Aug. 12 (No. 



45)- 



The openness of an area rather than its prairie character appears 

 to determine the habitat of this spider. This is evidenced by its 

 presence in open spaces within the forest. It flourishes in gardens 

 for similar reasons. Years ago I found this species verv abundant 

 in the late summer and fall at Bloomington, 111., in an asparagus bed, 

 after the plants had been allowed to grow up and form a rank mass 



