WEAVERS OF ROUND WEBS. ; NIDA 
downward and sustained by the feet, the difference being, as already noted, 
that the Epeira clasps with her feet the meshed terminations of the radii 
within the hub, while Acrosoma supports herself by the margin of the open 
hub. In the case of Rugosa, the method is 
the same but the position of the spider a little 
different. The two hindermost legs are clasped 
to the upper margin or to the bit of ribboned 
lace that frequently runs upward from the hub 
of the spiral space. The back or dorsum of 
her abdomen thus hangs towards the ground. 
The spinnerets are turned upwards and _ assist 
to support the spider by a little dragline. The 
head in this position is of course depressed, 
and at an angle say of forty-five degrees, more 
or less. She supports this part of her body not 
only by the first and second pair, but 
also by the third pair of legs, which, 
contrary to the custom of Orbweavers 
generally, are thrown forward on either 
side of the face. Generally the third pair of F'6- 12. Acrosoma mitrata suspend- 
legs is correlated with the fourth pair, and Be Gs eee 
the second with the first, but here the third is associated with the first two. 
The fact is doubtless in some way connected with the peculiar 
Position 
of Third 
Legs. 
hong character of the fourth legs, which in the genus Acrosoma are as 
Fourth > my r 
Legs. long as or longer than the first legs. The length of the fourth 
pair is an evident convenience to the spider when walking; for 
the ventral part of the abdomen is an inverted pyramid or cone, at the apex 
of which the spinnerets are placed. The ad- 
ditional length of the fourth legs thus serves 
to raise these organs above the ground as the 
spider moves. The same reason, viz., the 
length of the fourth legs, together with the 
open hub, influences the position of the third 
legs. These organs are not long enough to 
clasp the marginal ring of the hub near the 
feet of the fourth legs, and as there are no 
cross lines in the hub to grasp as in the case 
of Epeira, they must necessarily seek the 
nearest place of rest, and thus are stretched 
Fic. 113. Acrosoma spinea in position straight out from the body to the side of the 
rece Area ear hub, as is common with Mitrata (Fig. 112) 
and occasionally with Spinea; or else are bent forward in the direction of 
the first and second pairs, and grasp the cireumference of the hub, as does 
Rugosa habitually and Spinea frequently. (Fig. 113.) 
