8 PREFACE. 



some one who can thoroughly prosecute this line of studies will be led to 

 take it up and give the results to the scientific world. 



I have made a point of illustrating all descriptions with drawings 

 whenever the proper material was in hand. During my studies of ara- 

 nead spinningwork, I have made thousands of original sketches 

 Full Illus- .^ ^^^^g books, from which I have selected those that seemed 



best suited to make clear the points treated of. Judging by my 

 own experience, even an outline drawing is better to communicate certain 

 facts than pages of verbal explanation. Acting upon this belief, I have 

 preferred to risk excessive illustration rather than fall upon obscure descrip- 

 tion. Indeed, I cherish the hope that the contents of some of the follow- 

 ing chapters might be fairly understood by a simple examination of the 

 cuts with their explanatory legends. 



I have not been unmindful of the artistic sense of my readers, which, 

 I trust, has been measurably satisfied ; but I take it for granted that 

 those who honor me by looking at my work will understand that the 

 chief object of the engravings is to make plain what I have to say. In 

 other words, the figures are for illustration and not for embellishment. 

 Many of the cuts have been redrawn by competent artists, but a large 

 number remain as figured by myself on block or paper. Among those 

 who have assisted in making the drawings are the well known artists 

 and arachnologists, Mr. J. H. Emerton, of Boston, and Dr. George Marx, of 

 Washington ; also, Messrs. Edwin Sheppard and Frank Stout, of the Acad- 

 emy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; and the Misses Bonsall, of this 

 city. 



It may not be out of place to allude to the fact that, in order to give 

 my investigations to the public in any form that would satisfy me, I have 

 been compelled to undertake the entire burden and expense of 

 A ^h*^^ publication. Few things could be more inconvenient and dis- 

 Publisher ^^^^^f^*! ihein the business details thus imposed ; but I have ac- 

 cepted them as a part of the sacrifice required of one who, as a 

 prophet of the mysteries of Nature, feels called to declare, at whatever cost, 

 the truths known to him. 



Those who have undergone a like experience need not be told that the 

 amount of loss to fall ui)on an author will bo largely determined by the 

 interest which friends and associates take in procuring for his book a 

 place on the shelves of scientific societies and loading libraries. 



I have received many favors and much generous help in procuring in- 

 formation and specimens from various naturalists and friends, for which 

 Thanks. ^ express my thanks. I have tried to give full credit to all in 

 the appropriate place in text or foot note, but will make de- 

 served i)ersoiial acknowledgments in a succeeding volume. 



,, ,, H. C. McC. 



Piiii.ADKi.i'iijA, November 1st, 1S8!». 



