EN ee ee ee ae ee ae 
oT vee 7 ie 
300 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
stages of the work, and therefore proceed to record my observations. A 
typical example of methods was given by a female Domicile spider. 
The first foundation line of her orb was already stretched when 
I began the observation. She passed over this once or twice, 
and then, without waiting to spin an orbweb, near one of the 
extremities began preparing a nesting place from two leaves of the honey- 
suckle vine upon which she was located. When the work commenced 
the leaves presented the appearance of Fig. 276. The first steps consisted 
in stringing a number of lines (L L) between the inner surfaces of the 
two leaves, at the upper part thereof. This work was done rather 
slowly, the spider striding across from one leaf to the other until a little 
maze of lines was thus formed between the inner surfaces. Any pressure 
upon these lines, in the way of tightening or 
shortening them, tended to approximate the tops 
of the leaves. The next step consisted in at- 
taching a line (A, B) to the edge of one of the 
leaves near the tip. Striding across to the other 
leaf, dragging out the line after her, the spider 
threw the legs on one side of her body around 
the outer surface of the leaf, then attached the 
line and began slowly to shorten it. 
This movement, of course, drew the 
tips of the two leaves towards each 
other. The edges of the leaves on the oppo- 
site sides were treated in the same manner. 
Thus, by fixing a line to one leaf and pulling 
the opposite leaf towards this point, and then 
F1G. 276. Process of nest making; attaching thereto the other extremity of the 
ae eS. ee te line, the leaves were approximated, as indi- 
ges of leaves; X X, position of 
tips after lines A,B, etc, are cated by the dotted lines X X, and the prepar- 
Na as atory stages of a nest accomplished. When 
the nest was completed it presented the appearance of Fig. 277. 
The spider stayed in this nest for several days without making any 
marked additions to it, which was due, perhaps, to the fact that heavy 
rains were falling most of the time. After this work of nest construc- 
tion was over, she dropped from the projecting stem of the leaves by a 
dragline, threw out a swinging basket, and issued a thread from her spin- 
nerets, apparently with a view to seeking a foundation. This thread at- 
tached itself to the vine at an opposite point about a foot distant, but for 
some reason was in a little while loosened and floated away before the 
spider crossed over and strengthened it. At this point I was compelled to 
cease observation. 
A half grown Insular spider colonized upon an arbor afforded another 
opportunity to note the first stages in nest building. After she had been 
First 
Stages. 
Joining 
Edges. 
