4O THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



the spiral thread is made of curled or hackled silk. Thesf. 

 webs are nearly horizontal, and are usually made between 

 stones or in low bushes. The spiders of this genus are not 

 common, but they are widely distributed. They have not, 

 however, been reported as yet from the Pacific coast. 



Family THOMISID^ (Tho-mis'i-dae). 



The Crab Spiders. 



There are certain spiders which are called crab spiders, 

 on account of the short and broad form of the body, and 

 the curious fact that they can walk more readily sidewise or 

 backward than forward. 



These spiders spin no webs, but lie in wait for their prey. 

 They live chiefly on plants and fences, and in the winter 

 hide in cracks and under stones and bark. Most of the spe- 

 cies are marked with gray and brown, like the bark upon 

 which they live. Some species conceal themselves in flow- 

 ers, where they lie in wait for their prey. These are brightly 

 colored, like the flowers they inhabit ; so that insects visiting 

 flowers may alight within reach of a spider before seeing it. 

 In this family the legs are turned outward and forward 

 more than downward ; so that the body is carried close to 

 the ground. The second pair of legs are as 

 long as or longer than the fourth pair. The 



~ 



'* eyes are small, nearly equal in size, and ar- 

 ranged in two rows. 



On e of the best-known members of this 

 family is the female of Misumena vatia (Mi-su'me-na va'ti-a). 

 This is milk-white, with sometimes a light crimson mark on 

 each side of the abdomen, and is found within flowers 

 (Fig. 46). 



Family LYCOSID^E (Ly-cos'i-dae). 



Tlie Running Spiders. 



Every collector of insects who has searched for speci- 

 mens under stones and logs is familiar with the large, dark- 

 colored, hairy spiders often found in these places. These 



