92 The Structure and Habits of Spiders. 



the palpal organ, Fig. 48. The shape of these 

 organs is very constant in the same species of 

 spider, and thus becomes one of the most con- 

 venient marks of such a group. 



THE EPIGYNUM. 



When the female spider is nearly full grown, 

 there appears a hard, swollen place just in front 

 of the opening of the ovaries, Fig. 1 ; and, after 

 the last moult, the epigynum is uncovered at 



Fig. 49. 



this place. The epigynum, Fig. 49, consists of 

 two spermathecae, E, which connect by two 



1 



little tubes, H, H, with the oviduct near its 

 mouth, and by two larger tubes, D, with the 

 outside of the spider. The mouths of these 

 larger tubes are often surrounded by various 



