Supcrfamily Argiopoidea 



them and the middle spinnerets. The middle spinnerets consist 

 of a single segment each, the others of two, but the second seg- 

 ment of the fore spinnerets is very short. In the genus Hahnia 

 the anterior median eyes are smaller than the anterior lateral. 

 The posterior spiracle is large and is situated near the middle of 

 the venter of the abdomen. 



These are small spiders which spin 

 delicate sheet-webs near the surface of the 

 ground; the webs are so delicate that they 

 attract attention only when covered with 

 dew; they are not furnished with a retreat. 

 1 have often found the webs stretched over 

 slight depressions in the bare ground of 

 Fig. 682. spinnerets country roads and of cultivated fields. In 



the early morning while the webs are still 

 covered with dew the spiders are to be found under the webs. 

 I infer that they move to the upper surface when the web is dry. 

 The webs are also made among short and thin grass and moss. 

 And the spiders are frequently found under stones and leaves. 

 Only six of our species have been described; of these the 

 following are the more common. 



Hahnia agilis (H. ag'i-lis).— - This species measures about 

 one eighth inch in length. The cephalothorax is bright orange- 

 brown and the abdomen is light gray with many irregular pale 

 spots. In the middle of the front half of the abdomen there are 

 two orange-coloured spots and behind these there are several pairs 

 of pale oblique spots. 



This species occurs in the Eastern States. 

 Hahnia cinerea (H. ci-ne're-a).— This is a much smaller 

 species, measuring only about one twelfth inch in length. The 

 cephalothorax is brownish with dark radiating markings. The 

 abdomen is dark gray with scattered small white spots and a 

 double row of light spots in the middle followed by chevrons. 

 This species is found in the East. 



Family PISAURIDiE (Pi-sau'ri-dae) 



The Nursery-web Weavers 



No more striking instance of maternal devotion is to be 

 found among spiders than that exhibited by the nursery-web 



598 



