Archive image from page 97 of American spiders and their spinning. American spiders and their spinning work. A natural history of the orbweaving spiders of the United States, with special regard to their industry and habits CUbiodiversity1121211-9742 Year: 1889 ( 98 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. below the shield space upon the web of the spiderliiig Argiope, in the early part of June, when the little creature evidently had been but a few weeks, probably a few days, out of the cocoon. The purpose of this zigzag is an interesting problem; it evidently has no special purpose in the da
Archive image from page 97 of American spiders and their spinning. American spiders and their spinning work. A natural history of the orbweaving spiders of the United States, with special regard to their industry and habits CUbiodiversity1121211-9742 Year: 1889 ( 98 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. below the shield space upon the web of the spiderliiig Argiope, in the early part of June, when the little creature evidently had been but a few weeks, probably a few days, out of the cocoon. The purpose of this zigzag is an interesting problem; it evidently has no special purpose in the daily life habits of the spider; at least, close and continuous observation of many species colonized upon my j)remises have uncovered nothing. I believe that it serves to strengthen the shield in its position at the hub, staying it by the broad bands which bind to- gether and support the radii. The great weight of the spider is thus Fiu. 90. The central part and upper foundation lines of Argiope's snare. distributed over a much larger part of the orb. It probably answers a similar purpose when the spider is engaged in swathing the large insects which often serve it for prey, the strong zigzag cord and central shield forming a secure attachment for the binding cords, thus keeping the net intact against the struggles of the victim. This zigzag on the snares of Argiope is the nearest approach in nature to that 'winding stair' up which the cunning old sjjider in the school- book rhymes of 'The Spider and the Fly' dragged his 'silly' victim 'into his dismal den.' Argiope certainly does pass over it to the lower part of her snare; but the ordinary open radii on other orbs are also thus
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