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i ee Ne ke iS hare a a oa il eae ea i lel Meas 
NESTING HABITS AND PROTECTIVE ARCHITECTURE. 289 
in 
As a rule, the various groups of Orbweavers differ from each other and 
agree within themselves in characteristic nest forms. The form prevailing 
c in each family is substantially the same; each species seems to 
Architec- adhere quite steadily to one characteristic form; but there are 
tural Va- Behe : ; : : : 
riations, %°™e marked variations in the habit of certain species, as in 
the Insular spider, whose nest architecture we have seen is not 
constant in form among the individuals of that 
species. Indeed, the variation extends without a 
doubt to the habits of the same individual under 
different circumstances. This opens a most inter- 
esting feature in the story of spider industry, which 
may as well be kept in mind as we proceed with 
the description of these nesting habits. It will be Fis. 262. Nest of Strix within 
obvious that some of the variations are adaptations Pega 
to changed environment. Some of the most decided of these variations have 
been observed in the nest architecture of Epeira strix. I observed two of 
this species domiciled in the beautiful hedgerows of a New England meadow, 
within nests of several rolled leaves, which had an inside lining quite like 
that which is made by Insularis. Both nests were below the orb, one ten 
inches below. The second example had for her nest a very bright red 
rolled leaf with a tube inside of it, which made a strikingly pretty object. 
The ordinary nest of Strix when domiciled in the open field or wood 
is a rolled leaf. A single leaf is taken, the edge pulled up, drawn under, 
and fastened by adhesive threads into a rude cylinder, within 
Varia- which the spider hides during the daytime. (Fig. 262.) A 
woo thread connection with the foundation lines of the snare is 
tions: sometimes maintained; but rarely with the centre of the orb by 
a taut trapline, as is the habit of the Insular spider. For this 
reason I have often been greatly puzzled, and not infrequently foiled, in 
searching for Strix in the neighborhood of her orb, which one comes at 
last to recognize on sight with tolerable accuracy. 
This severing or concealing of her trail threads is 
undoubtedly a protection against raiding natural- 
ists; but I cannot imagine any security which it 
gives against natural enemies. This cylindrical nest 
will often be spun within any convenient cavity, as, 
Fig. 263. Nest of Strix within for example, a bit of curled birch bark, Fig. 263, a 
a ee ies specimen found on an island in St. Lawrence River. 
A second form of the nest of Strix varies from the rolled leaf nest in 
having the edges of the two adjacent leaves bent towards each other and 
lashed together on the exterior at the juncture by silken cords, and on the 
interior by adhesive tissue web. An oval opening is left at the united 
