Try, Try Again

We have a spider in residence on our front door -- the glass pane of what would be the screen door if we ever got around to changing the panes. I have a mild interest in spiders, and a particular interest in this one.

For those of you who are familiar with these guys (or gals), this one is black with white spots, has an interesting configuration of legs, and doesn't seem to mind being observed, albeit through two panes of glass. What fascinated me most is his/her pattern of making a web. I have yet to be able to watch the whole process, but he makes what appears to be a vertical zigzag stitch, then keeps filling it in until it is almost a satin stitch. In the center, he spins a sort of fuzzy mass, where he waits -- possibly bones up on culinary techniques until another spider comes by.

In the ensuing process, the web is destroyed -- and the next morning the spider starts all over again.

Do you think Mr. Singer studied such a creature to come up with the zigzag? This may take some thought. . .