Arachnoid (more pics-esp. at bottom)

Even though we are studying spiders, I really didn't intend to have such a large specimen outside the window to study. We're trying to figure out what kind of spider it is. Can you help us? Click here to view a picture. (This is the only not-out-of-focus picture.)

Here are some more pictures -- taken with my camera unfortunately, meaning they aren't in focus because I'm zoomed in so far. Point and shoots only do so much.























Another one:


Gotcha! These are two of the craft spiders we made at co-op. Much less scary!

Could this be it?

Added *much* later: I'm told this is an eastern orb spider.