462 



ARACIINIDA. 



number inclined towards the tongue. The body is generally depressed, like a Crab, with the abdomen 

 broad, rounded, or triangular. 



These Spiders keep themselves immovably fixed, with the legs stretched out, upon vegetables. They 

 do not make webs, merely throwing out a few solitary threads in order to catch their prey. The 

 cocoon is orbicular and flattened ; they hide it between the leaves of plants, of which they bring the 

 edges into contact, guarding it carefully until the birth of the young. 



Micrommata, Latr., Sparassut, Walck.,* has the maxillae straight, parallel, and rounded at the edge, the eyes 

 arranged into two rows, the posterior row being the longest, and curved behind ; the tongue is semicircular. 

 M. Smaragdula, Fab., A. viridissima, De G., of a grass-green colour, with the abdomen yellowish-green, with a 

 darker line. Found common in woods near Paris, where it fastens three or four leaves together into a triangular 

 pocket, lining the interior with thick silk, placing its cocoon in the middle, which is round and white, and permits 

 the eggs to be perceived within ; these are not glued together. 



M. Argelas (the name of which reminds naturalists of that of one of our most zealous savans, whom I have 

 held up to their esteem as my deliverer in the revolutionary troubles), is one of our largest [French] species, being 

 two-thirds of an inch long. This species was discovered near Bordeaux, by the naturalist to whom I have dedi- 

 cated it. Subsequently, M. Dufour discovered it in the most arid mountains of Valentia, where he observed its 

 habits. It runs with velocity, extending its legs laterally, its unguicular cushions permitting it to retain its 

 station on the smoothest surfaces and in every situation. Its cocoon (which it constructs on the under side of 

 pieces of rock) resembles that of Clotho Durandi. It also secretes itself there against inclement weather and its 

 enemies, and in order to deposit its eggs. This is an oval tent, nearly two inches in diameter, fastened upon the 

 stones, nearly like marine patellae. It is composed of an outer envelope of yellowish taffety, thin, like the peel of 

 an onion, but resisting; and of an inner covering, more pliant, soft, and open at both ends. It is by these 

 apertures, furnished with valves, that the animal goes out. The cocoon is globular, placed underneath its abode, 

 so that it can cover it, and contains about sixty eggs. 



I believe we must also place in this genus the Aranea venatoria, Linn., figured in Shane's Jamaica (pi. 225, 

 fol. 2 ; Nhamdia, 27 l'ison), and another species from East India, very like the preceding, and which we see 

 figured upon the drawings and tapestry imported from China. 



Senelops, Dufour, lias the maxillae straight, without a lateral notch, and terminating in a point, being obliquely 

 truncate; the tongue is semicircular. The eyes are thus arranged, — six in front, forming a transverse [tortuous] 

 line, and two others, posterior, and situated, one on each side, behind each extremity of the preceding line; the 

 legs long, and the second pair the longest, and then the third and fourth, which are longer than the first. 

 S. omolosoma, Dufour, Valencia, inhabiting the rocks, and running with the quickness of a dart ; also in Syria. 

 Other species occur in Senegal, the Cape of Good Hope, and Mauritius. 



Philodromus, Walck., has the maxillae inclined upon the tongue, which is longer than broad; the eyes, at nearly 

 equal distances apart, form a crescent or semicircle, the lateral ones not being placed upon tubercles or emi- 

 nences. The chelicerae are long and cylindrical ; the four or two hind legs do not materially differ in length from 

 the preceding. According to M. Walckenaer, these spiders run with rapidity, the legs laterally extended, watch 

 for their prey, throw out single threads for its retention, and hide themselves in holes, or amongst the leaves, which 

 they draw together when they deposit their eggs. 



Some species have the body flat and broad, the abdomen short, dilated behind, with the four middle legs longest. 

 Such is Ph. margaritarhts, Clerck, which is three lines long, and is very common upon trees, wooden fences, 

 walls, &c, where it sits with its feet extended ; when watched it escapes with great rapidity, or falls to the ground 

 by dividing the thread by which it was held. Its cocoon is of a fine white, and incloses about a hundred eggs, 

 which are yellow and loose. It is placed in the crevices of trees or posts exposed to the north, and is very care- 

 fully guarded. 



The other species of Philodromus, which Walckenaer forms into several small groups, have the body, and often 

 the chelicerae, proportionably longer. The abdomen is pear-shaped, or oval, and sometimes cylindrical. The 

 second pair of legs, and then the first or the fourth, are longest. Ph. rhombicus, Walck. ; Ph. oblongus, Walck., &c. 



Thomisus, Walck., differs from Philodromus in the chelicerae, proportionably shorter and wedge-shaped, and the 

 four posterior legs very evidently shorter than the four anterior. The lateral eyes are often placed on tubercles, 

 while those of Philodromus are always sessile. The species of this genus are commonly called Crab-spiders. The 

 males are very different in their colours from the females, and generally much smaller. 



Some species (all of which are exotic) have the eyes arranged in two transverse, nearly parallel lines, four and 

 four, the posterior line being the longest. E. Lamarckii, Latr. (allied to Aranea nobilis, Fabr.), &c. 



In the others, forming the greatest number, the general outline of the eyes forms a crescent, with the convex 

 part in front. A. globosa, Fab. ; A. cristata, Clerck ; A. atrea, De Geer, &c. 



Storena, Walck., although imperfectly known, appears to terminate this section, and to lead to Oxyopes (which 

 is as much allied to the Crab-Spiders as to the Wolf-spiders), and has the maxillae inclined upon the lip, which 

 is long and triangular, and nearly as long as them ; the chelicerae, conical ; the two fore-legs and then the second 

 pair the longest ; the eyes arranged thus— 2, 4, 2. 



The second general division of the bipulmonary Spiders, that of the Wanderers {Vagaiondes, 



• M. Walckenaer places this genus in the series of those which are at times wandering and sedentary, such as Attus, Thomisus, Diassus, &;., 

 and which have ouly two hooks to the tarsi. 



