WEAVERS OF ROUND WEBS. 115 
rings upon the legs, and bands upon the cephalothorax. I have some 
adults with whitish abdomens. 
Epeira sclopetaria (Ep. vulgaris Hentz), the gray Cross spider, I have 
not found abundant in wooded spots, but more frequently near bodies of 
water. Immense colonies are domiciled near and upon the boat- 
ee houses, taverns, and outhouses at the inlets and boat landings of 
BOLOpE- antigen iie a fe The ‘OW sat size 
Heigl Atlantic City and Cape May, N. J. They grow to great size, 
feeding upon the swarms of green head flies and other insects 
that frequent those places. he cellars, open and latticed spaces under the 
porches, stables, and out- 
houses of the cottages and 
hotels of these watering 
places are also favorite 
resorts. The proprietors 
would do well to encourage 
their presence and propaga- 
tion as at least some check 
upon the flies and mosqui- 
toes. 
In South Carolina, where 
Hentz first observed the spe- 
cies, she is seldom found 
far from the gardens. This 
partiality to human homes 
he supposed due to the ad- 
ditional safety thus afford- 
ed from the terrible Sphex, 
though on what ground | 
cannot conceive. In South 
farolina she is subject to 
such variations in color and 
markings that it is quite 
difficult to distinguish be- 
tween these and several 
other species. Hentz once 
found in the nest of a mud dauber (wasp) seventeen variations of this spe- 
cies, each differing more or less from the others. In this latitude (Philadel- 
phia) I find no such difference as to color, which is a quite uniform pray ; 
but there is some tendency to variations in the markings of the abdomen, 
especially among the young. The species is distributed! from South Caro- 
lina northward to Maine, and westward through New York and Pennsylvania 
to Wisconsin, including Canada, at least along the St. Lawrence River. 
Fig. 104. Snare of Epeira strix among the lilies, 
"Of course in all these allusions to geographical distribution it is understood that the 
reference is to that known by the author to date. 
