WEAVERS OF ROUND WEBS. 121 
folium. The nests, moreover, were not as carefully formed as with those 
species. Vontobraia makes its orb early in the evening, and thereafter 
hangs to it pretty closely, unless disturbed. The traplines by which the 
webs are connected with the nests are much deltated at the point of 
union with the hub, and diverge at the point where they are united 
with the nest. So that the spider, instead of clasping a single line as is 
usual with Trifolium, really has its feet upon several lines. I have seen 
this peculiarity in traplines of Domicile spiders that had spun on iron 
fences. Vertebrata appears to be a very diligent weaver, working with 
steadiness and energy at the daily renewal of her snare, ‘hihi early Oc- 
tober. She then begins to show less actiy ity; the sluggishness increases 
rapidly, the webs are rarely renewed, and 
soon the spiders disappear within the 
leaves and die. 
Epeira displicata is an interesting little 
spider which makes a round web, usually 
somewhat inclined. I have found 
Epeira —_ it in New England, woven against 
displi- ‘ 
a leaf whose edges were curled 
cata, 
up and formed the support for 
the foundation lines. I know little of its 
general habits, but it is distributed quite 
extensively throughout the United States. 
Among the most interesting of our 
spider fauna is that group of the genus 
: Epeira which may properly be 
oe ea the Angulata group. 
Spider, ‘he individuals are distinguished 
by two processes, more or less de- 
cided and pointed, upon the base or front Fic. 108. Snare of Epeira displicata, From 
part of the dorsum of the abdomen. They Pe een, ee 
are situated near the margin and overhang the sides and the cephalotho- 
rax. They are not hard or leathery like the spinous processes upon Acro- 
soma and Gasteracantha, but have nearly-the consistency ofthe abdominal 
integument. To this group belongs the Diadem Spider, Epeira diademata, 
so familiar in European landscapes, and known popularly as the Cross 
Spider or Garden Spider. I have specimens of this species collected in the 
United States, one as far to the north and west as Minnesota. The spider 
undoubtedly has found lodging upon our shores, probably as an importa- 
tion by immigrants’ from Europe, but is very rare as yet. 
Others of this group are Epeira gemma, a fine large species, which 
inhabits the Pacific slope, and as far eastward at least as Utah; also 
Epeira cinerea, a large gray species, in many respects resembling E. gemma, 
which ranges the Northern Atlantic slope and the Adirondack Mount- 
