132 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



twelve inches wide, twelve inches high, seven inches deep. The shape and size 

 are of course modified, as with all webs, by the particular features of the site. 

 There is a decided space between the labyrinth and the orb, except 

 that the orb is, with rare exceptions, attached above by its foundation 

 lines to the labyrinth. This is seen in the side view shown at Fig. 116. 

 The spider is there nested under one of her cocoons. The side attachment 

 of the orb is apt to be upon some of the long guy lines by which the laby- 

 rinth is held in form. It generally extends downward as far as the middle, 

 or a little below 7 the middle point of the orb. 



The maze serves its little proprietor and factor 

 the following uses : First, it is environment and 

 support for her tent ; second, it gives convenient 

 points of suspension for her orb ; third, 

 it provides a safe and convenient nur- 



Uses of 



rinth ser y within, which to hang her cocoons ; 

 and, fourth, proves an admirable field 

 upon which the young can find exercise and for- 

 age. I have seen the little fellows, late in the 

 season, scrambling up and down among the inter- 

 lacing lines, picking out here and there minute 

 entangled insects. Fifth, the labyrinth serves as 

 a true snare as well as domicile for the adult 

 spider, for I have seen her capturing small insects 

 that had been caught within the maze, cutting 

 through the lines for that purpose. Her chief 

 dependence for food is, however, upon the orb. 

 Moreover, sixth, the labyrinth must have value as 



FIG. 116 Side view of Labyrinthea's .. , /. ,-, 



snare, to show the space between a protective environment for the occupant against 

 orb and snare. raiding mud dauber wasps and other enemies, and 



for her cocoons against various parasitizing foes, since the tangle of crossed 

 lines certainly raises a formidable barrier against approach of winged in- 

 sects. It might be added, seventh, that in the pairing season the males 

 appropriate the labyrinth for purposes of temporary rest in their gradual 

 approach when courting the female. They pull down the lines by their feet 

 as they hang back downward until they form the ribs of a sort of araneal 

 groined arch. I have seen three males hanging upon one web at the same 

 time. Labyrinthea rarely makes great changes in this portion of her snare, 

 although the orb, as is usual with Epeiroids, requires frequent 

 renewal. Indeed, the maze has greater natural strength than the 

 orb, for I have observed that winds and showers which had com- 

 pletely beaten down and dissolved the latter did not aifect the 

 former, and in such cases the occupant abode within her reti- 

 telarian bounds for a day or two without reproducing the orb web. 1 



1 On this point see further in the chapter on Engineering Skill. 



Strength 

 of the 

 Laby- 

 rinth. 



