——_ NN ae ee ae 
296 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
more inclined to select a loftier site for her habitation. For example, 
let us climb these bars into the adjoining woodland and walk along the 
wagon trail, which is absolutely embowered by the young over- 
Nest of hanging trees. We find on all sides large, round webs, swung 
Insular ; ; 
Ginter: to long foundation lines that stretch from the lower branches of 
the trees to the ground, or to the low undergrowth. Long trap- 
lines extend upward to a leafy cell, within which one can see the orange 
and yellow colors of Insularis, as she crouches, with legs drawn up 
around her face, against the upholstered end of her chamber. The great 
leaf of the young hickory, or the long, palm shaped leaf of the oak, 
are often chosen by this spider, and they make a roomy dwelling place. 
On a closing day of August one sees hanging near by the nest of the 
female Insularis another curled leaf, not quite so artistic and complete, 
perhaps, but showing the outward signs of a spider habitation. Turning 
back the tip he sees a male Insularis who has come a-courting, 
and he has pitched his tent as near that of his lady love as 
circumstances seem to allow. He is not the only lover on the premises, 
however, for on the opposite side of my lady’s bower is another courtier; 
and just below, swinging to some straggling ratlins stretched against the 
stem, a third attendant is found. These are the days of mating, with all 
their joys and sorrows, their successes, and their perils. Yes, perils I must 
say, for twice to-day, at least, I have seen the unfortunate gallant rolled 
up within silken swathing, dangling at the jaws of his lady love, who thus 
proved how greatly she liked him, after the shocking fashion of. the canni- 
bal islanders. 
Let us pluck one of these Trifolium nests, that we may examine its in- 
terior. This requires a little care, for the tips and other parts of the leaves 
are so stayed by numerous lines, radiating to this side and to that, flaring 
downward, and attached to the upper foundation cable of the snare as well 
as to adjoining foliage, that, if one is not careful to clip the threads all 
around the leaf, it will be torn as he draws it away from the stem. The 
nest, of course, is always open downward, never upward, always facing the 
centre of the orb, so that the trapline can pass directly out of the nest 
to the hub. No obstruction, therefore, is permitted at the door of the 
tent, or, if one so please to phrase it, at the mouth of the den. But the 
opposite end is always closed, usually by a thick curtain of silk which en- 
tirely shields the abdomen, and makes a comfortable resting place for that 
part of the body. All around the sides of this end of the chamber one 
‘sees, especially if the nest has been occupied several days, little white 
patches of thickened silk, which show where the spinnerets of the spi- 
der have attached the dragline which it is the invariable habit of the 
species to use as an anchorage whenever it moves. These little white 
spots, scattered all around the inner surface of the cell, and showing with- 
in the lighter silken lining of the leaf, haye a very pretty effect, and one 
Courting. 
7 ere ee 
