300 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



First 

 Stages. 



stages of the work, and therefore proceed to record my observations. A 

 typical example of methods was given by a female Domicile spider. 

 The first foundation line of her orb was already stretched when 

 I began the observation. She passed over this once or twice, 

 and then, without waiting to spin an orbweb, near one of the 

 extremities began preparing a nesting place from two leaves of the honey- 

 suckle vine upon which she was located. When the work commenced 

 the leaves presented the appearance of Fig. 276. The first steps consisted 

 in stringing a number of lines (L L) between the inner surfaces of the 

 two leaves, at the upper part thereof. This work was done rather 

 slowly, the spider striding across from one leaf to the other until a little 

 maze of lines was thus formed between the inner surfaces. Any pressure 



upon these lines, in the way- of tightening or 

 shortening them, tended to approximate the tops 

 of the leaves. The next step consisted in at- 

 taching a line (A, B) to the edge of one of the 

 leaves near the tip. Striding across to the other 

 leaf, dragging out the line after her, the spider 

 threw the legs on one side of her body around 

 the outer surface of the leaf, then attached the 

 line and began slowly to shorten it. 

 This movement, of course, drew the 

 tips of the two leaves towards each 

 other. The edges of the leaves on the oppo- 

 site sides were treated in the same manner. 

 Thus, by fixing a line to one leaf and pulling 

 the opposite leaf towards this point, and then 

 attaching thereto the other extremity of the 

 line, the leaves were approximated, as indi- 

 cated by the dotted lines X X, and the prepar- 

 atory stages of a nest accomplished. When 

 the nest was completed it presented the appearance of Fig. 277. 



The spider stayed in this nest for several days without making any 

 marked additions to it, which was due, perhaps, to the fact that heavy 

 rains were falling most of the time. After this work of nest construc- 

 tion was over, she dropped from the projecting stem of the leaves by a 

 dragline, threw out a swinging basket, and issued a thread from her spin- 

 nerets, apparently with a view to seeking a foundation. This thread at- 

 tached itself to the vine at an opposite point about a foot distant, but for 

 some reason was in a little while loosened and floated away before the 

 spider crossed over and strengthened it. At this point I was compelled to 

 cease observation. 



A half grown Insular spider colonized upon an arbor afforded another 

 opportunity to note the first stages in nest building. After she had been 



Joining 1 

 Edges. 



FIG. 276. Process of nest making ; 

 first stages. L L, lines joining 

 edges of leaves ; X X, position of 

 tips after lines A, B, etc., are 

 drawn taut. 



