84 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



Thus, to follow her course from R2 she would descend to the next 

 radius, R3, by such a direct drop. When her string is attached to the 

 point x, on this radius, she will pursue the ordinary method and 

 P ass aroun d to the spiral scaffold at its point of intersection (z) 

 with the radius. Here IIOW T it is again possible for her to drop 

 from z to x, on the radius marked 4. From this point onward, while pro- 

 ceeding across her orb, and during the ascent from R4 to R16, her habit- 

 ual method is to swing around the radius to the spiral scaffold, and so 

 down the next radius to the points of intersection, x. When she has 



FIG. 83. Swinging around the circle. 



reached radius No. 16 it is again possible for her to proceed by dropping 

 directly from her last point of intersection to the radius next below. 



It will be observed that an alternate course of progress is possible for 

 the spider at certain sections of her orb. For example, between the radii 

 3 and 4, and 4 and 5, instead of moving from the point of intersection, 

 x, along the radius to the spiral scaffolding, and dropping from the point 

 z or swinging along the radius of the scaffold, she may pass 

 from x3 directly along the line n, supporting herself by the 

 beaded spiral last wrought in. This she sometimes undoubt- 



Beaded 

 Spirals. 



edly does. Blackwall expressed the opinion that the last made 

 viscid spiral line is also used as a support while spinning the next spiral 



