TARSAL-COMB IX SPIDERS. 183 



B, the third elongate central claw, and opposing this at C, are two 

 serrated claws, or rather, perhaps, curved spines of an origin simi- 

 lar to those of the tarsal-comb proper. We have no space to 

 dilate upon the significance of this arrangement of tarsal claws or 

 to compare them with those of other families and genera, interest- 

 ing though such a comparison would be. 



At Fig. 2, is represented one of the spines of the comb, 

 highly magnified, to show more accurately the nature of the barbs. 



Thus far as to the instrument. Next, let us consider its 

 relation to the flocculent wool, and its great assistance to its 

 owner in the capture of victims. As we have said, when any 

 creature touches the flakey webbing, it immediately, as is not 

 unnatural, commences a kicking protest ; all to no purpose, 

 however, for the watchful old lady above has long been awaiting 

 the arrival of a something or other in her snare, and after a prelim- 

 inary shake or two, she rushes in and commences to offer assis- 

 tance in every way to her struggling guest — every assistance, that is, 

 which may complete its final discomfiture. 



For this purpose, she makes great use of the curious instru- 

 ment we have been considering above. Taking up her position 

 beneath the disturbance, which is often very great and withal 

 dangerous, should the cause happen to be anything large and 

 savage, keeping it well out of the way with her very long fore- 

 legs, by alternate sweeps of her tarsal-combs over her spinners, 

 she conveys a sheet of fine fibrous silk to all points of the 

 kicking ; these movements being accomplished with marvellous 

 rapidity, so rapid that the eye can scarcely follow them, until the 

 victim, hampered on all sides with the treacherous silk, bound 

 hand and foot, is left to think matters over in peace and quiet, 

 until such time as our friend, being hungry, begins to nibble at 

 a protruding extremity, a process which we have noticed somewhat 

 disturbs the meditations of the prisoner. 



At first, we were of opinion that the silk was laid on in flakes — 

 that is, each application of a comb carried a flake of silk of fine 

 fibres, but we now believe that the stream of fine lines is continu- 

 ous, each comb taking up the extraction and application in turn. 

 It will now be noticed how admirably adapted are these combs for 

 this purpose. It will be seen that the barbs of the spines will, when 



