GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORBWEAVERS SNARES. 
OL 
9 
web by one who knew its characteristics.1 In point of fact, we shall see 
that there are very striking differences in form and_ structure among the 
snares spun by the Orbitelariz. In the following chapters these differences 
will be pointed out and illustrated, and an attempt made to group and 
Ghee arrange the various snares in some natural order, I define an 
Defined, O'Pweb as a snare constructed of right lines radiating from a 
common centre, and crossed spirally, for the most part, by num- 
erous circular lines, or lines forming ares of circles. 
The round web of the Orbweaver probably deserves the distinction of 
having given the popular name cobweb to the whole spinningwork of 
spiders. One easily sees how the 
Anglo Saxon word cop, a head, could 
have been appropriately applied to 
objects which, by their rotundity and 
size, suggest the contour of the hu- 
man face.2 The orb is the figure 
which quite unconsciously rises when 
one speaks of the spider’s web, an in- 
dication that it is perhaps the most 
striking, although it is by no means i; 
the most common form of araneal SAB Ae rien a ana Ria a 
spinningwork. Nevertheless, all orbwebs are not round, as will be seen 
hereafter, hence the qualified terms of the definition given above. 
Orbwebs fall naturally into two great groups, Vertical Snares and 
Horizontal Snares. In Vertical Snares the orb is habitually perpendicular 
to the plane of the horizon, or nearly so. In Horizontal Snares 
the orb is habitually parallel with the plane of the horizon, or 
nearly or approximately so. The normal positions of these 
snares are as described, and they often appear thus in nature; but loca- 
tion compels more or less variation. The exigencies of construction fre- 
quently foree such an arrangement of foundation lines as inclines the orb 
to the plane of the horizon more or less sharply. Thus it may occur 
that a true vertical and a true horizontal web may be stretched upon 
nearly the same plane. The careful observer, however, will rarely fail to 
note and allow for the peculiarities of the site which cause these deflec- 
tions, and easily give each web its proper classification, 
Vertical orbwebs may be arranged under four subdivisions: first, Full 
Orb; second, Sectoral Orb; third, Ray or Actinic Orb; fourth, Orb Sector. 
Great 
Groups. 
‘ For example, I haye collected, without much effort, quite a number of samples of 
wall paper, into whose patterns the orbweb is introduced, showing how favorite a figure 
this is in decorative art. Orbwebs also abound in embroidery and hammered ware. 
* The German has kopf, the Welsh cob, and the Greek «87, kube. The word cob, how- 
eyer, has been applied to the spider herself, as a round or head-shaped object, just as we 
give the name “cobble stone” to boulders. 
