THE RAY SPIDER AND HER SNARE. 205 



tute of the calamistrum and cribellum, which are always associated with 

 this character of spimiingwork, it was hardly possible that the spiral arma- 

 ture could have been of this sort. However, I was not able to testify on 

 the subject with that assurance which seemed to me desirable. It is cer- 

 tainly possible for one to be deceived by even an ordinarily careful exam- 

 ination. The webs of Thericliosoma are so habitually placed in 

 f n n ht c ^ ar ^ cay iti es an( l shaded locations, and in positions that often 

 extremely embarrass the observer, that on this ground alone one 

 would be liable to mistake. Again, I have often noticed that even the 

 simple lines of Theridium will be found covered with particles of dust 

 and the spherical grains of pollen, which at a casual glance present very 

 much the appearance of beads. More than once I have been drawn into 

 a second and third examination by this deceiving resemblance. Moreover, 

 I had limited my original examination to the use of a hand lens, and had 

 not made the more careful microscopic test which would have placed the 

 matter beyond doubt. I therefore resolved to reexamine the subject before 

 a final expression of opinion. 



An opportunity to do so did not present until the 8th of July, 1889. 

 In the vicinity of \Vallingford, Pennsylvania, in a shaded ravine covered 

 with a wild growth of natural 

 plants that overhang a stream of R 



clear running spring water (Doe's 

 Run), I found a number of this 

 species, and made a thorough 

 study of the point in question. I 

 took with me apparatus by which 



portions of the Web COllld be Sep- F 10 - 199 - Beaded spirals on the snare of Theridiosoma 



gemmosum. (Magnified.) 



arated and placed under the micro- 

 scope. Thus tested, in three separate snares, I was able to determine be- 

 yond doubt that the spiral line of Theridiosoma is precisely like that of 

 Epeira. The beads upon several strings, that is, the several portions be- 

 tween two radii, were counted, in one case numbering sixty-four. I was 

 able to make satisfactory drawings of these beads, Fig. 199. 



The behavior of the web upon the frames and glass cups was pre- 

 cisely like that of Epeira, the beads melting upon the surface of the 



glass, and the string remaining as a simple line in the midst of 

 The Spir- tne ^{ sc \([ mass The beads reflected light ; in appearance ex- 

 Viscid ac tly resembled those of Epeira, and in some cases the cord upon 



which they were attached was distinctly seen running through 

 them. Further, I examined portions of the snare upon which small insects 

 had been caught, and these showed in every respect the manner of entan- 

 glement which I have so frequently observed with the true Orbweavers. 

 (Fig. 200.) Previous to removing the sections from the webs, I tested 

 them with the tip of a blade of grass, to which the lines adhered very 



