299 



stout materials that it will arrest small birds, and even impede the 

 progress of a man. 



Their cocoon is usually globular; that of some species, however, 

 is a truncated oval, or very short cone. 



The natives of New Holland Voyage a la recherche de la Pey- 

 rouse, p. 239 and those of some of tin- South Sea Mauds, for want 

 of other food, eat a species of Epeira, closely allied to the Aranea 

 esurienx, Fab. 



M. Walckeriaer, in his Tableau des Aranei'des, mentions sixty-four 

 species of Epeirte, remarkable, in general, for the diversity of their 

 colours, form and habits. He has arranged them in various small 

 and very natural families, the study of which we have endeavoured to 

 simplify in the second edition of the Nouv. Diet, d'Hist. Nat., article 

 Epe'ire. Certain important considerations, such as those of the 

 sexual organs, had been neglected or were not sufficiently attended 

 to ; thus, for instance, the female Ep. diadema, and others, present at 

 tin- part which characterizes their sex, a singular appendage, which 

 reminds us of the apron of the Hottentot women. These species 

 should constitute a separate division. By pursuing this examination 

 other not less natural divisions might be established. 



We will content ourselves with mentioning a few of the principal 

 species, commencing with those that are indigenous to Europe. 



Ep. diadema ; Aranea diadema, L., Fab. ; ROBS., Insect. IV, 

 xxxv xl. Large, reddish, velvety ; abdomen of the females 

 extremely voluminous, particularly when about to lay their eggs, 

 and of a deep brown or yellowish red ; a large rounded tubercle 

 on each side of the back near its base, and a triple cross, formed of 

 small white spots or dots ; palpi and legs spotted with black. 

 Very common in Europe in autumn. The eggs are hatched in 

 the spring of the ensuing year. 



/.'/;. vf//A//-/\ ; Aranea scalaris, Fab.; Panz., Faun. IV, xxiv. 

 Thorax reddish ; top of the abdomen usually white, with a black 

 spot in the form of a reversed triangle, oblong and dentated, 

 weaves its web along the banks of ponds, brooks, &c. 



Ep. cicatricosa ; Aranea cicatricosa, De Geer; A. impressa, 



>. The abdomen flattened, and of a greyish brown or obscure 

 yellowish ; a black band, festooned or edged with grey along the 

 middle of the back; eight or ten large impressed points in two 

 lines. It constructs its web on walls or other bodies, and 

 remains concealed in a nest of white silk, which it forms under 

 some projecting object, or in some cavity in the vicinity. It 

 only works and feeds during the nitfht, or when the light of day 

 is but weak. It retires under the bark of old trees or logs. 



l-'.p. sericea, Walck., op. cit., Ill, ii. Covered above with a 

 silvery and silken down ; abdomen flattened, immaculate and 

 with festooned margins. South of Europe and Senegal. 



lip, finca, Walck., Hist, des Aran. II, i, the female. Very 

 common in the cellars of Angers. Its cocoon is white, almost 

 globular, fixed by a pedicle, and composed of very fine threads; 

 it is soft to the touch, like wool. That of the 



Ep. fasciata, Walck,, op. cit. Ill, i, the female, is about an inch 



