122 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
ains.! To the same group belong Emerton’s Epeira sylvatica, and my FE, 
bicentennaria. The species are closely related to each other and to the 
European Epeira angulata and E. bicornis. Systematists may 
hereafter unite them all into two or three species. The habits of 
the entire group, as judged by the species which I have studied, 
are like those of Insularis and Trifolium as above described. They dwell 
in silken tents or nests of rolled leaves, and spin webs of the type shown 
at Figs. 101 and 107. 
Epeira stellata is remarkable for the formation of its abdomen. Around 
the sides are inserted a number of spines, one of which projects promi- 
nently over the cephalothorax, which gives the creature a striking and 
weird appearance. I have taken it, especially the young, in Pennsylvania. 
New Jersey, and Connecticut. In the last named State numbers of the 
species were seen occupying orbicular snares, which were spun low upon 
erass, ferns, and golden rods on the margin of a meadow near a stone 
fence. They were of the general type of that group of 
which Epeira strix is a representative. The spiders hung 
at the centre with legs bunched up against the body, the 
half grown individuals looking like seeds of certain plants. 
The dull grays and grayish browns of its color helped to 
make it inconspicuous against the background of the brown- 
Fic. 109. Figure of ing foliage on which their snares were spun. At the least 
Gasteracantha, f°" disturbance the spider dropped suddenly to the ground, or 
ran for refuge to the foliage at one end of the web.? 
Among the Orbweavers constructing full vertical orbs is Gasteracantha, 
a spider whose remarkable shape has attracted the attention of many ob- 
servers. Fig. 109, I have received numerous specimens of Gaster- 
acantha cancer, and perhaps several varieties of the same, from 
Mrs. Rosa Smith Eigenmann, which were collected in the neigh- 
borhood of San Diego, California. On the Mesa land near the Mussel 
Beds, and also along the bay shore in that vicinity, a great number of 
specimens were found. ‘The orbs of the spider were usually spread at a 
considerable angle, occasionally nearly horizontal, and sometimes almost 
Angulata 
Group. 
Gaster- 
acantha. 
1Tt was first made known by me in the Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., under the name Epeira 
harrison, after the lady from whom Mrs. Mary Treat (who sent me specimens) received it. 
Emerton subsequently gave a detailed description and obtained priority. 
2The measurements of one snare of an individual about half grown are given as fol- 
lows: Orb, 6} x 63 inches in dimensions. Central space, 1} x 13. Notched zone and hub, 
# inch in diameter, of which the hub itself was 3%; inch. The notched zone contained 8 
spirals. The hub was slightly meshed. From the notched zone to the spiral space the dis- 
tance was } inch. The interspaces between the last 3 spirals of the notehed zone were 
much larger than those of the rest of the series, being ; inch. The spiral space itself coy- 
ered from 3 to 3} inches. The radii numbered 35. The spirals were 26 below, 20 above, 
and 21 at the sides of the hub. Another web was 5 inches in diameter, and was nearly 
round in shape; had 18 radii and 18 to 19 spirals. 
