eS, a 
228 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
phenomena as one would decide upon the behavior of his fellow man, one 
is not astray in attributing to the spider a rude sort of intentional en- 
gineering skill. Is it any less worthy of this title because exercised with 
seeming unconsciousness and without a moment’s hesitation or apparent 
reflection of any sort? 
In the same direction look the facts which I have recorded in the 
chapter on the construction of webs (Chapter IV.), under the head of 
alternate apposition of the radii. Indeed, it may be said truly, 
Alternate that in the entire work of laying out the foundations of an orb 
ae sie and placing in the radii, regard is had continually to the proper 
Petia: adjustment of the various parts, with view to their counterpoise 
and adequate support beneath the weight of the operative. One 
side is balanced against another side, one line is stayed by its opposite, 
and so from part to part the spider moves, evidently to keep her orb 
entirely balanced until it is completed. 
The manner in which the ends of the radii, which terminate upon 
the hub, are wrapped round about and braced by the notched zone; the 
: manner in which the wide nonviscid spiral scaffold lines are 
Sorel woven in order to give vantage ground from which to place 
in the close lying and permanent viscid spirals, upon which 
the usefulness of the orb depends—-all these, to mention no other points, 
seem to indicate a very delicate perception of those modes (shall I also 
say principles?) of construction which are continually recognized in the 
art of the builder, the architect, and the engineer. The examples of vari- 
ous orders of spinningwork which I have given above have been grouped 
in this chapter to give the force of assembled and consecutive illustra- 
tion to the inquiry as to the intellectual quality of araneal architecture. 
In point of fact, the special industries detailed in the various chapters, 
and notably the two on Nesting Habits, will furnish illustrations of equal 
aptitude and. force. 
- Rafa tan prem He is 
ee fe ee ee se ee Pe ee ee 
