"Margaret Lillard" wrote in message
...
I recently saw an enormous spider in my back yard (nearly shook hands with
it while I was clearing a vine) that was "large black, yellow and white"
but not the one Daniel has linked to.

Including the legs, it had to be at least 2x3 inches big, with what I
guess you'd call a classic spider body -- small head portion, rounded
body. It was primarily black with very vivid yellow stripes and white
accents.

'Round here we call 'em stitching or quilting spiders because of the way
they "stitch" a strong white zig zag in their webs.