MATERNAL INDUSTRY : COCOONS OF ORBWEAVERS. 



83 



Among various other examples of California spinningwork received 

 from Mrs. 'Eigonmann and Mr. R. L. Orcutt, of San Diego, were several 

 cocoons of rare beauty. They were lenticular or liemispheroidal 

 Argiope masses, of a yellowish, yellowish green, and green color. (See 

 teolT figures, Plate IV.) They were pulled out into angles at the flat 

 side, as though they had been suspended by threads at the an- 

 gular points. They varied somewhat in 

 size, from three-fourths of an inch to an 

 inch long, one-half inch wide, and three- 

 eighths liigli. It was long a matter of 

 wonder and discussion with me what spe- 

 cies formed these beautiful egg nests. Mr. 

 Orcutt finally attributed them to Argiope 

 argcnteola, without giving a reason for his 

 opinion. The question was at last settled 

 by a living female specimen of that spider 

 sent me by Mrs. Eigenmann, which, hap- 

 pily, reached me alive, but very feeble. I 

 placed her under a trying box, fed her 

 with water and flies, and she revived. 

 The following morning a cocoon was hung 

 within the box, whose shape and color 

 solved the mystery, and proved that Mr. 

 Orcutt was correct in attributing the co- 

 coon to Argenteola. 



This cocoon was a keystone shaped 

 patch of white sheeted silk, upon which 

 was raised a greenish button that enclosed 

 the egg mass. (Fig. 53.) The white color 

 of the sheet can hardly be characteristic, 

 for in specimens before me this part is 

 green. 



The whole was suspended between lines 

 that were attached above to the lower foun- 

 dation lines of the orb, and to the sides and 

 bottom of the box beneath. Evidently the 

 spider, in spinning her cocoon, had first 

 stretched the sheet, and against or within 

 this had placed her eggs, which she then proceeded to overspin in the usual 

 manner, though, of course, it is not impossible that in this and like cases 

 the cocoon may be framed upon a flat surface and then raised and sus- 

 pended in the above described position. In general appearance this cocoon 

 resembles that of Epeira rather than the typical Argiope cocoons as rep- 

 resented by our two familiar species, Cophinaria and Argyraspis. But in 



Fig. 49. Cocoon of Argiope argyraspis, 

 hung upon the stalks and leaves of a 

 wild flower. 



