146 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
what has caused this divergence from the typical single line? I am 
rather inclined to think that it is accidental, resulting probably from the 
breakage and pulling out into irregular forms of the original thread, and 
the efforts of the spider to repair it without reconstructing her snare. Its 
telegraphic efficiency is probably thereby impaired. 
IV. 
Nephila plumipes! is the largest of our indigenous Orbweavers, and is, 
perhaps, our most decided representative of tropical spider fauna. Some 
examples of the genus Nephila in the 
collection of the Academy of 
Distribu- Natural Sciences of Phila- 
boa delphia, from Africa,” have 
plumipes. Teached an immense size. 
Their webs are formidable 
impediments when stretched across 
paths and among forest trees, even 
to human passengers. I know of but 
one species in the United States, and 
for much of our knowledge of this we 
are indebted to the intelligent studies of Pro- 
fessor Bert Wilder, M. D. While stationed 
on the Southern Atlantic coast as an army 
surgeon during the war of the Rebellion, he 
became especially interested in this creature, 
and published various papers descriptive of 
his observations. The chief habitat of Ne- 
phila, as Prof. Wilder found,* is Long Island, 
a low, narrow uninhabited strip of land about 
five miles southwest of Charleston, South Car- 
olina, covered with palmetto and pine trees, 
surrounded on all sides by creeks, and in the 
Fie, 137. Wilder’s Nephila. Fe- midst of a great salt marsh. During a two 
male, natural size. 5 ° r 
years’ stay on the coast and in the interior of 
South Carolina and Florida he never met with any traces of Nephila else- 
where than near this island, except a specimen found upon Folly Island, 
and a cocoon found in a tree on James Island. He had not observed it 
1Prof. Thorell expressed the opinion, on the strength of specimens sent to him, that 
our American Nephila is a different species from N. plumipes. I propose for it the name 
of N. wilderi, in recognition of the gentleman who has made its habits so well known, 
should the suggestion prove to be well founded. 
2Qollected in Zululand by Rey. Mr. Grout; some also from Liberia. 
8 Proceedings Boston Natural History Society, Vol. X., page 205, 1865. 
