262 The Life of the Spider 



transmission-thread. This is the Crater Epeira 

 [Epeira crater a, Walck.), a species seen in spring, 

 at which time she indulges especially in the chase 

 of the Domestic Bee, upon the flowering rose- 

 maries. At the leafy end of a branch, she builds 

 a sort of silken shell, the shape and size of an 

 acorn-cup. This is where she sits, with her 

 paunch contained in the round cavity and her 

 fore-legs resting on the ledge, ready to leap. 

 The lazy creature loves this position and rarely 

 stations herself head downwards on the web, 

 as do the others. Cosily ensconced in the hollow 

 of her cup, she awaits the approaching game. 



Her web, which is vertical, as is the rule 

 among the Epeirse, is of a fair size and always 

 very near the bowl wherein the Spider takes her 

 ease. Moreover, it touches the bowl by means 

 of an angular extension ; and the angle always 

 contains one spoke which the Epeira, seated, so 

 to speak, in her crater, has constantly under her 

 legs. This spoke, springing from the common 

 focus of the vibrations from all parts of the 

 network, is eminently fitted to keep the Spider 

 informed of whatsoever happens. It has a 

 double office : it forms part of the Catherine- 



