184 TARSAL-COMB IN SPIDERS. 



the tarsus is swept over the spinners, entangle and draw from the 

 countless little silk ducts, or spinning spools, a quantity of fine 

 threads, which are then conveyed to the points required, the 

 spider's long legs effectually keeping her out of all danger. Not 

 only, however, are the hind legs used for the purpose of enswathing 

 the victim ; I have often noticed that they are also made use of 

 for drawing out a single thread (or what appeared to be a single 

 thread), and of affixing it to any points of 'vantage required. I 

 have not yet actually observed the laying on of the flocculent silk 

 over the tangled single lines, but probably it is laid on with the 

 tarsal combs after the manner exhibited in the capture of the 

 prey, but whether at the time of spinning the lines, or afterwards, 

 I cannot certainly declare. It would seem to be most probable 

 that it is accomplished after the lines are laid out, and we hope 

 shortly to be able to confirm or refute this opinion. 



The Rev. O. Pickard Cambridge * mentions the mode of 

 enfolding the prey by Pholcus phalangioides^ by means of alternate 

 movements of the hind legs. This species, common in the south, 

 is not found in these northern regions ^(Cumberland), and not 

 having any specimens by me, I am unable to say whether the 

 tarsal-comb is also present in this species, though I should expect 

 it to be so. Fig. III. represents a female, Theridion feJ)ida?'iortwt, 

 in the act of securing a small woodlouse ; the males also possess 

 evident tarsal combs, but they are not so conspicuous as those of 

 the females. 



It only remains to show how far this structure is of importance 

 in the systematic classification of the family Therididce. 



We find that this comb exists in a more or less developed form 

 in all those genera, comprised by M. Simon in his section, Theridi- 

 ormii. He has divided the Therididce into Theridiofiini and Eri- 

 gom?ii (amongst other sections). None of the genera composing 

 this latter section possess the comb; Lmyphia,Q.g., Tmeticus, Bathy- 

 p/ia7ifes, Drapetisca, Tapifiopa, etc. etc., show no signs of such a 

 structure — the nature of their web enables them to do without ; 

 while the genera T/widion, Criistidina, Steatoda, Ero, Episinus, 

 Pholcomma, all present the same characteristic comb ; the genus 



* Ann. Mag. Nat. His., Feb., 1878. 



