98 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
below the shield space upon the web of the spiderling Argiope, in the 
arly part of June, when the little creature evidently had been but a few 
weeks, probably a few days, out of the cocoon. 
The purpose of this zigzag is an interesting problem; it evidently has 
no special purpose in the daily life habits of the spider; at least, close 
and continuous observation of many species colonized upon my premises 
have uncoyered nothing. I believe that it serves to strengthen the shield 
in its position at the hub, staying it by the broad bands which bind to- 
gether and support the radii. The great weight of the spider is thus 
Fic. 90, The central part and upper foundation lines of Argiope’s snare. 
distributed over a much larger part of the orb. It probably answers a 
similar purpose when the spider is engaged in swathing the large insects 
which often serve it for prey, the strong zigzag cord and central shield 
forming a secure attachment for the binding cords, thus keeping the net 
intact against the struggles of the victim. 
This zigzag on the snares of Argiope is the nearest approach in nature 
to that “winding stair” up which the cunning old spider in the school- 
book rhymes of “The Spider and the Fly” dragged his “silly” victim 
“into his dismal den.” Argiope certainly does pass over it to the lower 
part of her snare; but the ordinary open radii on other orbs are also thus 
