98 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINOWORK. 



cocoon. In others they are quite irregular, not only in their sliai)e, but 

 in the mode of arrangement, being little more than irregular nodules upon 



the surface. One of the 

 specimens from California 

 consists of three cocoons, the 

 Hrst of which has the points 

 arranged with considerable 

 regularity, while the others 

 are less in size and are al- 

 most without rugosities. All 

 have little openings towards 

 the top, through which, no 

 doubt, the spiderlings made 

 their escai)e. (Sec Fig. 80, which shows the cocoons natural size.) 



Cj'rtarachne cornigera is quite as remarkable in the character of its 

 cocoon as in its own structure. This cocoon is a flask shaped object, re- 

 sembling that of Argiopc riparia, but with a .neck relatively 

 much longer. Two examples before me differ greatly in size, 

 one being more than one- 



Cocoon string of a California Cyrtanicline, seen from two 

 sides. Natural size. 



Cyrtar- 



achne 



Cocoons 



third larger than the 

 other. 1 In the former the stalk 

 or neck is of uniform thickjiess ; 

 in the latter it is twice as thic'k 

 at the mouth as at the bowl. (Fig. 

 81.) The cocoon is lashed at the 

 base of the bowl to a twig by a 

 number of silken threads, whicli 

 are attached to one side, carried 

 quite around the twig, and simi- 

 larly fastened to the opposite side. 

 The entire lower half of the bowl 

 is thus covered by the attached 

 wrappings, wliich are drawn so 

 tightly that the flask sits quite 

 firmly upon the twig. At the op- 

 posite end the cocoon is stayed by 

 lines that pass from the tip of the 

 stalk to the snare of the spider or 

 other sujjport. The attaciiments of 

 these guys are shown in Fig. 81, which is drawn twice natural size. 



In the Camden cocoon (Fig. 82, natural size), the lashings are of a 



' No. 1, collected by Mr. Isiuic Martindale, Camden, N. .1. ; length, 19 inin. ; howl, 10 mm. long, 

 9 mm. wide; stidk, i) mm. long, 3 mm. wide. No. 2, collected by Dr. (icorge Marx, Washington, 

 1). ('.; length, 12 mm.; bowl, G mm. long, .') mm. wide ; stalk, (i mm. long, l.l to :i mm. wide. 



Cocoon of Cyrtarachne cornigera, lashed to 

 a twig. X 2. 



