IM-LMONARI.fi. 307 



or which they excavate, lining their parietes with silk, and enlarging 

 them in proportion to their growth. Some establish their domicil 

 in chinks and cavities in walls, where they form a silken tube, 

 covered externally with particles of earth or sand. In these retreats 

 they change their tegument, and, as it appears, after closing the 

 opening, pass the winter. There also the females lay their eggs. 

 When they go abroad they carry their cocoon with them, attached to 

 the anus by threads. On issuing from the egg the young ones cling 

 to the body of the mother, and remain there until they are able to 

 provide for themselves. 



The Lycosae are extremely voracious, and courageously defend 

 thier dwelling. 



A species of this genus, the Tarentula, so called from Taren- 

 tum, a city of Italy, in the environs of which it is common, is 

 highly celebrated. The poisonous nature of its bite is thought 

 to produce the most serious consequences, being frequently fol- 

 lowed by death or Tarentism, results which can only be avoided 

 by the aid of music and dancing. Well-informed persons, how- 

 ever, think it more necessary in these cases to combat the terrors 

 of the imagination than to apply an antidote to the poison ; medi- 

 cine at all events presents other means of cure. 



Several curious observations on the Lycoxa tarentula of the 

 south of France have been published by M. Chabrier, Acad. de 

 Lille, fescic. IV. 



This genus is very rich in species, which have not as yet, however, 

 been well characterized. 



Lye. tarentula; Aranea tarentula^ L., Fab.; Albin, Aran., 

 tab. xxxix ; Senguerd. de Tarent. An inch long ; under part 

 of the abdomen red, crossed in the middle by a black band. 



The Tarentula of the south of France Lycose narbonnaise, 

 Walck., Faun. Franp., Aran., I, 1 4, is not quite so large ; the 

 under part of its abdomen is very black, and edged all round 

 with red. 



A similar species is found in the environs of Paris, the Lycose 

 ouvriere, or L. fabrilis, Clerck, Aran. Suec., pi. 4, tab. ii ; Walck., 

 Faun. Franp., Aran. II, 5. 



Lye. saccata ; Aranea saccata, L.; Araneus amentatw, 

 Clerck, IV, tab. viii; Lister, tit. 25, f. 25. Small; blackish; 

 carina of the thorax, obscure reddish, with a cinereous line; a 

 little bundle of grey hairs at the superior base of the abdomen ; 

 legs of a livid red, varied with blackish spots; the cocoon flat 

 and greenish very common about Paris *. 

 We will terminate this section with the subgenus 

 MYRMECIA, Lat., 



Which seems to lead to the following one, and whose characters we 

 have detailed in the Ann. des Sc. Nat., Ill, p. 27. The eyes form a 



For the other species see the Tabl. and Hist, des Aran. of Walckenaer, and the 

 Faune Frt^aise, Aran. Id. See also the second edition of the Nouv. Diet, d 1 Hist. 

 Nat., article Lytose. 



x2 



