ARGIOPE AND HER RIBBONED ORB, 105 
lines spun on either side or in front of the orb at the distance of one or 
more inches from it. In certain positions these wings are thrown on either 
side of the orb, as represented at Fig. 96, where the web is 
sited hung within a conical or pyramidal mass of cross lines, a retite- 
or Pro- s , 
: larian web, in fact. In this snare both the upper and lower sec- 
tective 
Wings. tions of the orb were attached to strong foundation lines set 
within this mass, which was itself attached to the surrounding 
foliage. This structure appears to be common as to the upper half of the 
orb, but the lower part is frequently fastened directly to the foliage or 
other objects of the site. Such an arrangement adds to the elasticity of 
the snare, and must materially contribute 
to its powers of resistance. When the 
webs of Argiope are spun in such a posi- 
tion as to expose the spider from either 
side, the wings are thrown out on both 
sides, as in the figure. But in a great 
number of cases only one side is thus de- 
fended, and it will be found in such cases 
that the other side is protected by the 
foliage against which the orb is spun. 
These fenders or wings are by no means 
universal. Indeed, I have examined scores 
of snares on the same day and for several 
successive weeks without noticing one ex- 
ample. The Banded Argiope makes the 
same kind of protective wings, and I have 
found several half grown individuals of 
this species on the seashore of Cape Ann, 
Massachusetts, whose webs were all thus Fic. 96. Protective wings or fenders of 
characterized. Sometimes the fenders are ERR CURES 
wholly separated from the spinningwork of the orb itself, and are thrown 
out well upon the flank, and attached to projecting parts of the foliage. 
They then commonly consist of very strong thick lines resembling those 
spun for the foundation of the snare. 
The purpose of this outlying spinningwork is probably protective. 
The scaffolding of crossed lines is thrown over both faces of the orb like 
wings, chiefly over the middle and upper parts, thus covering the point 
where the spider domiciles. The wings are several inches distant from 
the orb. Any large hostile insect or other enemy hovering around 
the web must first touch the outlying wings, whose agitation 
telegraphs a warning to the occupant. The detention resulting, 
trifling as it would be, might yet allow sufficient time, in many cases, for 
the occupant to escape. The protective wings might even happen to ward 
off wholly some assailants. On such provisions as this often hangs the 
Uses of 
Wings. 
