154 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
in all orbweaving species which make a composite web, either habitually 
or occasionally, the mass of crossed lines is separated by a little space from 
the orbicular part of the snare. This is the case with the protective wings 
of Argiope, which are always so placed as to leave free action for the 
spider as she moves back and forward between the orb and the retitelarian 
lines on either side. 
Epeira gibberosa, the Hunchback spider, closely resembles Hortorum in 
the sites selected for her snare. Like Hortorum the species is probably dis- 
tributed throughout the entire United States. I have collected it 
in Florida, in the border and Middle States, and in New England, 
and have specimens from Wisconsin, but none further to the 
west or northwest. Its snare rarely diverges from the horizontal plane, and 
is like the Orchard spider's in every respect, except that I have never found 
it with the apron or protecting maze of 
crossed lines. Instead of this, however, the 
spider has the habit of making for herself 
a netted hammock of lines stretched between 
leaves of the plant up 
orb is spun. (Fig. 
is sometimes woven 
edges of one leaf, as 
in the chapter upon 
derneath this ham 
hangs back downward, 
which is attached, at the opposite end, to 
the central part of her snare. In this respect 
her habit is related to —-F'G. 145. The hammock nest of the that of the Shamrock 
and Insular spiders ir ie and others of that 
group. Sometimes she forsakes this position and hangs like Hortorum 
underneath her orb, and sometimes I have found her thereon 
without any such associated hammock nest. Gibberosa appears 
to be less timid in disposition than Hortorum. At least, when 
touched by my pencil, the Orchard spider would invariably swing away 
from her position or crawl off to the outlying foundation lines. The 
Hunchback, on the contrary, instead of forsaking her position, would only 
turn around, shake her body, or jerk her trapline in a neryous manner. 
Gibberosa lacks the bright silver markings of Hortorum, but keeps the 
general green hue of legs and body, the color, however, being somewhat 
darker. 
Epeira 
gibberosa 
145.) This hammock 
bétween the pulled up 
may be seen figured 
Nesting Habits. Un- 
mock the Hunchback 
holding to a trapline 
Her Ham- 
mock. 
i; 
The genus Tetragnatha furnishes some of the most familiar and inter- 
g 
esting species of spiders making a horizontal snare. Our two most common 
species in the Eastern United States, and probably throughout the whole 
. . 
on or near which her 
a a. 
