296 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



more inclined to select a loftier site for her habitation. For example, 

 let us climb these bars into the adjoining woodland and walk along the 

 wagon trail, which is absolutely embowered by the young over- 

 hanging trees. We find on all sides large, round webs, swung 

 S id ^ l n foundation lines that stretch from the lower branches of 

 the trees to the ground, or to the low undergrowth. Long trap- 

 lines extend upward to a leafy cell, within which one can see the orange 

 and yellow colors of Insularis, as she crouches, with legs drawn up 

 around her face, against the upholstered end of her chamber. The great 

 leaf of the young hickory, or the long, palm shaped leaf of the oak, 

 are often chosen by this spider, and they make a roomy dwelling place. 



On a closing day of August one sees hanging near by the nest of the 

 female Insularis another curled leaf, not quite so artistic and complete, 

 perhaps, but showing the outward signs of a spider habitation. Turning 

 f back the tip he sees a male Insularis who has come a-courting, 

 '' and he has pitched his tent as near that of his lady love as 

 circumstances seem to allow. He is not the only lover on the premises, 

 however, for on the opposite side of my lady's bower is another courtier; 

 and just below, swinging to some straggling ratlins stretched against the 

 stem, a third attendant is found. These are the days of mating, with all 

 their joys and sorrows, their successes, and their perils. Yes, perils I must 

 say, for twice to-day, at least, I have seen the unfortunate gallant rolled 

 up within silken swathing, dangling at the jaws of his lady love, who thus 

 proved how greatly she liked him, after the shocking fashion of the canni- 

 bal islanders. 



Let us pluck one of these Trifolium nests, that we may examine its in- 

 terior. This requires a little care, for the tips and other parts of the leaves 

 are so stayed by numerous lines, radiating to this side and to that, flaring 

 downward, and attached to the upper foundation cable of the snare as well 

 as to adjoining foliage, that, if one is not careful to clip the threads all 

 around the leaf, it will be torn as he draws it away from the stem. The 

 nest, of course, is always open downward, never upward, always facing the 

 centre of the orb, so that the trapline can pass directly out of the nest 

 to the hub. No obstruction, therefore, is permitted at the door of the 

 tent, or, if one so please to phrase it, at the mouth of the den. But the 

 opposite end is always closed, usually by a thick curtain of silk which en- 

 tirely shields the abdomen, and makes a comfortable resting place for that 

 part of the body. All around the sides of this end of the chamber one 

 sees, especially if the nest has been occupied several days, little white 

 patches of thickened silk, which show where the spinnerets of the spi- 

 der have attached the dragline which it is the invariable habit of the 

 species to use as an anchorage whenever it moves. These little white 

 spots, scattered all around the inner surface of the cell, and showing with- 

 in the lighter silken lining of the leaf, have a very pretty effect, and one 



