PL'LMOXARIA 45 ( J 



the former have a slight dilatation on the outside, the latter is triangular : the two upper spinnerets are long; but, 

 according to L. Dufour, instead of the two intermediate spinnerets there are two coinb-shaped valves,— but 1 ha\ 

 distinctly seen in a well-preserved specimen six spinnerets, the two superior being the largest, and four others 

 very small : the anus on each side is furnished with a pencil of retractile hairs, which L. Dufour has called comb- 

 shaped valves, and which are distinct from the intermediate spinnerets. 



The only species, Ur. 5-maculata, Dufour (CI. Durandi, Latr.), is about half an inch long, of a brown maroon 

 colour, with the abdomen black, marked with five yellowish spots. Found in the south of Kurope and Egypt. 

 Dafour has made some curious observations on its habits. It constructs on the under side of stones, or in crevices 

 of rocks, a cocoon in the shape of a cap or patella an inch in diameter, its circumference having seven or eight 

 festoons ; the points alone being fixed to the stone by means of threads, whilst the edges of the festoons are free. 

 This singular tent is of an admirable texture, the outer surface resembling the finest tall'ety, and composed of a 

 number of folds. When young it only constructs two layers, between which it takes its station. But sub- 

 sequently, perhaps at each moulting, it adds additional folds, and when the period of reproduction arrives it 

 weaves another apartment expressly for the reception of the sacs of eggs and young when hatched, of a softer 

 texture. The inside of its habitation is always singularly clean. The bags in which the eggs are placed are four, 

 five, or six in number in each habitation ; they are about one-third of an inch in diameter, and of a lenticular form. 

 It is not until the end of December or January that the eggs are deposited, and they are enveloped in fine down to 

 guard them from the cold. The edges of the festoons not being fastened together, the insect is able to creep in and 

 out at will by lifting them up. When the young are able to dispense with the maternal cares, they quit their com- 

 mon habitation and form separate abodes, and their parent dies in her tent, which is thus the birthplace and tomb 

 of the Uroctea. 



Dratsut, Walck., has robust chelicerae, toothed beneath, the maxillae truncated obliquely at the tip, and the 

 tongue oval, truncated beneath ; the line formed by the four posterior eyes is longer than that of the four anterior 

 ones, the proportions of the external spinnerets scarcely differ, and they have not the comb-shaped valves which 

 exist in Clutho; the fourth and then the fore-pairs of legs are evidently longer than the others. They take their 

 stations under stones, in holes of walls, the interior of leaves, and form cells of a very white silk. The cocoons of 

 some are orbicular, llattened, and composed of two valves applied against each other. M. Walckenaer distributed 

 the species into three families, from the lines of the eyes and form of the maxillae. D. vxridittimut, which alone 

 comprises his third division, forms on the surface of leaves a fine, white, and transparent web, beneath which it 

 resides. 1 have often found on one of the surfaces of pear-leaves a similar web, but angular at the edge, like a 

 tent, similar to that of Clotho, and which is, 1 presume, formed by this species. 



M. Dufour found another species under stones upon the highest Pyrenees (D. segestriformis). It is allied to 

 my D. melanogatter, which is probably the D. lucifugus, Walck. A very pretty little species is common near 

 Taris, running on the ground ; it is nearly cylindrical, with a fulvous thorax, covered with purple down ; the abdo- 

 men varied with blue, red, and green metallic tints, with golden lines or spots (D. relucens). 



In all the other Tubiteke the maxilla; do not form an arch round the tongue : they are dilated on the outside, 

 beneath the base of the palpi. 



Segestria, Latr., has only six eyes, four in a curved line, and two behind the two lateral ones. The tongue is 

 nearly square and oblong ; the first and then the second pair of legs are of the greatest length. These Spiders spin 

 in the holes of walls cylindrical silken tint ads, where they station themselves, with their fore-legs extended in 

 front, diverging threads extended around the mouth of the tube, and form a small web for catching insects. 

 8. perfida, Latr., Araneaflorentina, Rossi, and other species. 



The other Tubiteke have eighl eyes; and in consequence of the medium in which they reside, they maybe 

 divided into terrestrial and aquatic species. Although M. Walckenaer has formed the latter into his last family 

 Of the Spiders (that of Nayades), they have so much relation with the other Tubiteke that notwithstanding tins 

 difference in their habits they ought to be united with them. In the terrestrial species the tongue is nearly square, 

 or but slightly narrowed and truncated at the tip, the maxilla' straight or nearly straight, and more ur less dilated 

 at the tip; the two eyes at each side of the ocular group are separate and not geminated, as in the aquatic 

 Tubiteke. 



Clubiona, Latr., differs from the next in the relative length of the external spinnerets, and in the front line or 

 being nearly straight. They make silken tubes to reside in, which they place under stones, in crevicesof 

 walls, or between leaves. The cocoons are globular (A. holotericea, Lin.; . I. atroa , De (ieer.) 



Aranea, which at first we had named Tegenaria, >tiil retained i>\ M. Walckenaer, and to which we unite his 

 Ageleiue and Nysri, has the two upper Bpinnerets <\ idently larger than the other-, and the front line of the 

 forms a carve. They construct in the interior of our habitations in the angles of walls, upon plants and h 

 in the ground or under stones, large webs [cobwebs] nearly horizontal, and at the upper part of which is a tube 

 in which they station themselves, without motion [Aranea domeetiea, Linn.; Tegenaria civilit, Walck.; Ar. 

 labyrinthica, Linn., ixc) 



Argyroneta, Latr. (comprising the Nayadee, Walckenaer; or Tubitelet aquatiquet, Latr.) has the maxfllc Inclin- 

 ing upon the tongue, which is triangular. The twoeyea al each lateral extremity of the ocular group are placed 

 close together on a particular eminence ; the four others form a square. A.aquatica, Linn, [or diving Water- 

 spider] ia blackish-brown, with the abdomen darker coloured, BiTky, and with t ■ impressed dots on the back. 



It resides in standing watt r, in which it swims with the abdomen encased in a bubbleof air, and in « bit h il forms 



for its retreat an oval cell tilled with air and formed of silk, from which threads proc I to the different adjacent 



water-plants in all directions. Mere it devours its prey, constructs its egg-case, which it carefully guards, and 



tl, ■ winter, ha\ Ing fir t i losed the cell. 



