142 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



represents in her spinningwork three separate tribes of spiders, namely, 

 the Orbweavers, to which she herself belongs ; the Lineweavers, whose 

 spinningwork she imitates in her netted maze of crossed lines ; and the 

 Tube weavers, whose snare is represented by the structure just described. 

 See also Fig. 123, g. 



The distribution of Epeira triaranea has not been very satisfactorily 



-rk- * -u determined; but it probably inhabits all the northern, central, 



IJistribu- -, , * 



tion a northern-southern portions of our continent between the two 



oceans. It has been located by collection in New England, the 

 Middle and Western States, Utah, and Santa Cruz, California. 



Epeira 

 thaddeus. 



Among the spinners 

 thaddeus Hentz. In size 

 sembles Triara 

 lar orb. As far 

 tend it affects 

 persistently than Triara 

 neighborhood of human 

 to screen itself beneath a 

 leafy tent, and in such 

 tubular nest within which 

 trapline of its snare. The 

 midst of which Triaranea 

 nest is wanting from the 

 are the chief variations 

 ningwork between the two 



of sectoral orbs is Epeira 

 and habit it closely re- 

 nea and weaves a simi- 

 as my observations ex- 

 wooded locations more 

 nea, or at least shuns the 

 habitations. It is inclined 

 curled leaf or within a 

 sites spins a strong silken 

 it dwells, holding to the 

 maze of right lines in the 

 hangs her bell shaped 

 web of Thaddeus. These 

 in general habit and spin- 

 spiders. Thaddeus is 



Distribu- 

 tion. 



,. ., FIG. 132. Tubular gangway (n.c) 



widely distrib between the tent and orb of uted, its southern loca- 

 tions being Al Triaranea. g.i., guy lines sup- a bama, South Carolina, 



porting tube. . 



as far as to En terprise, Florida ; north- 



ward it has been found in New England, Wisconsin ; and in the Middle 

 States at least to the prairies. It probably has range over the entire At- 

 lantic slope and Mississippi Valley. 



III. 



During the winter of 1882-3 Mrs. Rosa Smith Eigenmann sent me from 

 San Diego, in the extreme southern part of California, a few spiders, among 

 which were several of a species which proved to be Zilla x-notata. 

 In subsequent correspondence I ascertained that the snare of this 

 aranead was distinguished by a free sector, and several cocoons 

 were forwarded, from which I succeeded in raising fine broods of 

 younglings. These I located upon plants and various elevated objects within 

 a warm room, and as they freely spun their characteristic orbs I soon had 

 a number for study, of which an example is figured. Fig. 133 was spun 

 underneath the handle of a small basket, and is drawn natural size. The 





