116 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. © 
Closely related to Sclopetaria is the well known species Epeira patagiata. 
It is distributed throughout Europe, and is one of the common species of 
Syria. Its round snares must have been familiar objects to the 
ancient Palestinian prophets, and are as likely as any other to 
have suggested the several Scriptural metaphors drawn from the 
spider’s web. It is an abundant species in parts of the United States, 
especially in New England along the seashore, and in the Adirondacks 
and northern sections of New York. I have studied its habits and spin- 
ningwork in these parts, and find that they differ in no respect from those 
of Sclopetaria. I have little doubt that the two spiders are one species, 
and indeed one finds it difficult toseparate them into 
even two well defined varieties. 
Epeira benjamina Walck., the Domicile Spider 
(Epeira domiciliorum, of Hentz), has a very wide dis- 
tribution. Hentz found it in Alabama; Em- 
Epeira 
patagiata 
The B : 
..,. erton in New England; I have collected it 
Domicile . 2 : Sle, 
Spider. 12 Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Canada, New 
York, Ohio, New Jersey; and Mr. Peck- 
ham in Wisconsin. Dr. Marx has specimens extending 
northward and westward from Rhode Island, through 
Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, to Spring Lake, Utah; 
and southwest as far as Fort Graham, Texas. It thus 
has been traced over the entire United States to the 
Rocky Mountains. In Colorado it has a vertical dis- 
tribution of 12,000 feet. In the South, Hentz says 
that she is often found in dark places, and even spins 
her web in dark apartments not much frequented. I 
never found the species, though abundant in this 
Tae. Te. Ween aCe latitude, in any such sites—but usually upon bushes 
central of Bpeira domicili- and trees, in yards and woods, commonly bright and 
a sunny places. In one case I found several adult fe- 
males hanging upon their large webs, which were spread against a frame 
house, in the full blaze of a September sun. They kept the position 
throughout the entire day. Such a difference in habit is certainly note- 
worthy. After a heavy summer shower I once found two webs of this spe- 
cies temporarily marked by what is a quite fixed characteristic of the webs of 
Argiope. (Fig. 105.) Below the hub the notched zone was crossed 
Tempo- py a disk of thick, sheeted silk which extended downward be- 
i ed tween two of the radii, uniting them. A similar band united 
Ribbon tes ‘ . 
Decora. two of the radii above the hub. I conjectured that these had 
tions. been thrown out from the spinnerets to strengthen the web 
against the weight of the rain; or as a protection, a sort of 
umbrella, between the spider hanging on the side toward the bush and 
the shower driving from the opposite quarter. Several specimens of Epeira 
ee | S. 
