. 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. Spiders. ARGIOPE AND HER RIBBONED ORB. 99 used. However, in one snare noted, built within a lodge across the angle of two walls, the zigzag was prolonged into a series of lines like the rounds of a ladder, spun across the corner quite down to the floor. This was used as a gangway, by which on one occasion, at least, the occupant descended to the floor and thence escaped from the room. The entire system of spinningwork thus described, sh
. 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. Spiders. ARGIOPE AND HER RIBBONED ORB. 99 used. However, in one snare noted, built within a lodge across the angle of two walls, the zigzag was prolonged into a series of lines like the rounds of a ladder, spun across the corner quite down to the floor. This was used as a gangway, by which on one occasion, at least, the occupant descended to the floor and thence escaped from the room. The entire system of spinningwork thus described, shield and ribbons, is often five inches in length, and extends across the Free space, dividing it UBeof the^°^*" two nearly equal parts. The spider hangs at the centre upon Shield. *^^ shield which thus covers the lower part of her body. Her legs are well extended, but the corresponding pairs, the two fore legs and the two hind legs, are approximated so that these members are arranged somewhat X-shaped. The feet, however, are usually turned out- ward, the points of contact of the legs being at the tibia. ;rhe main purpose of the shield I believe to be protective. It certainly may serve as a strong screen against attack of enemies from the under or ventral side of tlie animal. As a rule that side of the shield which looks outward from the site is occupied by her; but at times the animal hangs also upon the opposite face, next the leaves or shrubbery. I have often seen an alarmed spider scurry through the open space from the outer to the inner face of the shield. Again, the spiders which on one day were found ^'"- ^- '^^^ abdomen 1 • i ±1 • • 1 p ,, 1 . , 1 dropped, and the mass liangnig to the mside of the shield, of lines gathered into loops. ningwork drawn but. on the next day; and, again, some on one side and some The abdomen lifted. ii i t i ,. i on the other. I have fully satisfied myself by experiment that a threatened danger will be avoided by placing the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectspiders, bookyear1889
