156 THE COMMON SPIDERS 



the distances between them by several short, irregular threads 

 (fig. 379) and then begins the inner spiral with the turns, at first 

 close together and then widening, in some species gradually, in 

 others suddenly, until they are as far apart as the spider can 



Fig. -580. Finished web of Epeira sclopetaria witli unusually small number of rays. The 

 spider hangs in the center, head downward, in its customary position. The lower half 

 of the web is wider than the upper half, as it usually is. The cross threads with tri- 

 angles at the ends are caused by two or more threads sticking together in the middle. 



reach with the spinnerets on one and the front feet on the next, 

 and so goes on nearly to the outside of the web, where it stops 

 abruptly (fig. 381). The spider usually rests a moment and 

 then begins, sometimes at another part of the web, the outer 



