Superfamily Argiopoidea 



states that the species of Dysdera enclose themselves in an oval, 

 depressed sac of close, firm tissue, and that the female deposits 

 her eggs there without enveloping them in an egg-sac. It may 

 be that the sac is made only on the approach of the egg-laying 

 period. 



Genus SEGESTRIA (Se-ges'tri-a) 



This and the following genus are closely allied in structure 

 and in habits; they differ in the position of the median eyes 

 as given in the table above. 



Segestria pacijica (S. pa-cif'i-ca). — This, our only repre- 

 sentative of the genus, is quite common on the Pacific coast. 

 The cephalothorax is brown; the abdomen is nearly white with 

 reddish brown spots on the middle line, and scattered ones on 

 the sides. The length of the body is a little over one fifth inch. 



Genus ARIADNA (Ar-i-ad'na) 



In both this and the preceding genus the body is more elon- 

 gate and more nearly cylindrical than in Dysdera, the result of 

 their living in slender tubes. Another striking peculiarity is 

 that the third pair of legs, as well as the first and second, is 

 directed forward. In this genus the median eyes are situated 

 between the posterior lateral. The palpus of the male closely 

 resembles that of Loxosceles (p. 107). The following is our only 

 species: 



Ariadna bicolor (A. bi'col-or). — This spider measures about 

 one third inch in length. The cephalothorax and legs are yellow- 

 ish brown, and the abdomen purplish brown. 



The habits of this species are very remarkable. I collected 

 the specimens that I studied at Agricultural College, Mississippi, 

 in March. They were hibernating, each in a long, slender tube 

 in a crack in a boat house. I brought them alive in vials to Ithaca, 

 where they were left unnoticed till the middle of May. I then 

 placed each in a hole in a block made by nailing together several 

 small blocks. The face of the block was painted black, so as to 

 render any silk that might be spun by the spiders more con- 

 spicuous. My efforts were rewarded; for each spider made a 

 nest for me the very first night; nests of such marvellous en- 

 gineering skill that I have never ceased to wonder at them. 



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