12 
Psyche 
[March 
through the web and assumes a corresponding position on 
the opposite side. Seen almost exclusively in A. aurantia, 
in response to fork presented to the dorsum, no web inter- 
vening. Young individuals accomplished it nimbly, the 
older slowly and clumsily; in mid-season it was little ob- 
served. Individual (occasional?) differences marked. 
Spreading : The spider resting at orb-center, or else- 
where in the web, extends one or more pairs of legs, and 
holds them in extended position ; in response to a vibrating 
fork near the body, but not in contact with the web. Seen 
most developed in E. insularis, less in E. trifolium and A. 
aurantia, E. domiciliorum, E. cavatica. In extreme cases 
(Epeira) all legs except one or two by which spider hangs, 
bend in opisthotonic spasm away from fork held to venter 
between them. If fork is held to dorsum, legs may similarly 
bend back towards fork. More noticed is orientation of ven- 
ter towards fork (Peckham, p. 391, for E. diademata, 
Grunbaum pp. 292, 295), even through 180°, preserving 
tonic extension of legs. In aurantia, spreading did not gen- 
erally involve more than the first two pairs and did not occur 
if the orb was between; in trifasciata it was little seen. 
Occasionally, spreading was observed (in E. trifolium and 
cavatica only) when fork was presented to venter of spider 
on back, folded in tonic immobility (Peckham, pp. 390- 
392). 
Reaching: Flexor movements alternating with extensor, 
to stimulus as in “spreading”. Seen most in A. trifasciata, 
marked also in E. domiciliorum, E. stellata, and A. aurantia. 
These were relatively free, waving movements ; in E. insu- 
laris they were often rapid twitches, through a smaller arc. 
Fork is not grasped in these movements though within easy 
reach, and often touched (Peckham, p. 391). 
Seizing: The reaching movements are more effective, 
clinging to the fork, there is swathing and attempt to bite ; 
on withdrawal of fork, spider remains with it, sometimes to 
complete detachment from web. Seen in larger, maturer 
orb-weavers generally, but marked occasional (individual?) 
differences. Besides this seizure of approximated fork not 
in contact with web (if web is between, spider climbs 
through), fork normally seized when vibrated in contact 
with web (details for E. diademata, Peters ’31, pp. 721 ff., 
