72 



PECKHAM. 



[Vol. 1, 



in deep black and brilliant yellow, hanging out in the middle 

 of her web, so striking an object that every passer-by must see 

 her. An old-fasioned naturalist might be pardoned for calling 

 her a wonderful instance of an all-regulating Providence, 

 which has not only provided this lucious morsel to be the food 

 of some bird, but has also made her so conspicuous that the 

 bird cannot fail to see and recognize its natural prey. * 



Cophinaria, however, is not unprotected. Of one means 

 of defense common among conspicuous creatures, i. e., the 

 possession of a nauseous flavor, she seems to be destitute, as 

 some chickens, to which she was offered, ate her with relish ; 

 but her size alone must protect her from a host of enemies 



that prey upon smaller 

 species. For creatures 

 large or fierce enough to 

 tack her we must look 

 birds and wasps. From 

 lese foes she is protected 

 I a number of irregular 

 les which she stretches 

 syond her web (fig. 1). 

 I liese must be passed he- 

 re the spider can be 

 1 bached. Now cophinaria 

 has a delicate sense of 

 touch. Place your finger 

 lightly upon one of the 

 outlying lines — she falls 

 like a shot to the ground, 



FiK. 1.— Web of Arglope cophinaria, showing where,with her back dOWn, 

 outlymg lines (from SicCook). i t i i ■ ^ 



and her legs drawn m she 

 is difficult to find, unless you have followed the drop with your 

 eye. Or approach the web without touching it ; your shadow, 

 the sound of your footstep, or perhaps the vibration of the 



» Darwin (Descent of Man. p. 343) says that M'Clelland, in describing certain 

 Indian Cyprinidae, supposes that their remarkable brilliancy serves as a better mark 

 for the birds which are destined to keep the numbers of these iiahes in check. 



