i] A SURVEY OF THE FIELD 3 



happens, are not spiders at all. Yet the British List 

 contains about five hundred and fifty species, and 

 the spiders of the world, though only very partially 

 investigated, already include many thousands of 

 known and described forms. 



In this little work we shall not at all consider the 

 spider tribe from the collector's point of view. We 

 shall concern ourselves rather with habits and modes 

 of life and such structural modifications as are 

 correlated therewith. Certain well-defined groups of 

 spiders we shall recognise, but specific names will 

 interest us little. And we might do worse than step 

 out on such a spring morning as we have imagined 

 and rapidly survey the field which lies open for our 

 investigation. 



First, then, examine a little more closely one of 

 the garden bushes in which the spiders have been so 

 busy, and the chances are that three different types 

 of snare will be readily distinguishable. There are 

 sure to be some of the familiar wheel-like snares of 

 Epeira, but note also the fine-spun hammocks of 

 Linyphia with stay-lines above and below, and the 

 irregular labyrinths of Theridion, its lines crossing 

 and recrossing without apparent method. These are 

 sedentary spiders, and always to be found at home. 

 All spiders spin for some purpose or other, but 

 these or at all events Epeira have brought the art 

 to its highest perfection. Leave them for the present 



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