The orb may be said to be 
composed of a series of inde- 
pendent rays or sectors, each 
ray consisting of several spi- 
rally crossed radii, and the 
whole series united into an 
orb by cross lines or spirals 
like those which unite the ra- 
dii. In the shifting of the 
section lines above referred to, 
this separation of the orb in- 
to independent rays is always 
quite evident. The spirals are 
covered with viscid beads, as 
in most orbwebs. The radii 
do not all pass to the hub or 
( 1 ies centre, as do those of orbwebs 
Fic. 190. Side view of Ray spider’s snare when drawn taut or generally, but converge for the 
bowed. Seen within a cavity. 
most part upon the axes of 
the rays as represented at Figs. 187, 188, 189. Thus at Fig 189 the 
various radii of the several sectors converge consecutively upon the axes 
i, li, iii, iv. These axes themselves converge upon a single strong thread 
or trapline, T, which is attached to some part of the surrounding surface 
of rock, earth, or plant. 
When the snare is flat or 
relaxed, as was the case 
with the one drawn at Fig. 
188, and as appears in Fig, 
187, the trapline is often 
about perpendicular to the 
plane of the orb, having 
the relative position of the 
handle to the rays of an 
open Japanese umbrella. 
This, however, depends 
somewhat upon the enyi- 
ronment; a convenient 
point for the attachment 
of the trapline will cause 
the animal to divert the = 
thread more or less from yi 
the perpendicular. Uj}, 
We may now suppose 
the spider placed as in Fic. 191. Ray spider’s snare when bowed. Viewed from behind. 
