540 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID^, 



filaments, thereby affording absolute immunity from the attacks 

 of insectivorous birds; but it must be understood that the leaves 

 are only introduced into those structures that contain cocoons, 

 the nests occupied when moulting consisting onl}' of the usual 

 white silk, and being free from foreign substances. During the 

 pei'iods of moulting or maternity, the entrance to the nest is 

 always securely closed. Nothing can exceed the maternal care, 

 devotion and self-abnegation of C. silaceum, for not only does the 

 mother mount guard over her eggs, but absolutely refrains from 

 leaving them even for a moment, and abstaining entirely from 

 food, not only until after they have hatched out, but until 

 they have become old enough and strong enough to quit the nest 

 and start in life for themselves. The retreat — nes^t — is con- 

 structed at the spui's of shrubs, is white and open at each end, 

 and serves as a shelter from the weather, or for repose and for 

 protection fi*om enemies. 



The spiders of the genus Clahiona, Walck., have been classified 

 by most authors (Walckenaer, Westring, Ohlert, Staveley, Simon, 

 Thorell, Dahl, and others) with the Drassidce but Wagner (in a 

 paper which I have not yet seen*) has allotted it to a separate 

 family, Glubionidce, of which it is the sole representative. In so 

 far as the architecture of the species is concerned, there is much 

 in common with other representatives of the Drassidoe. The 

 spiders conceal themselves in silken cells which they construct 

 either on or among the leaves of plants, in the crevices of walls 

 or rocks, under stones, among the rugulosities of trees, and behind 

 exfoliating bark. In the capture of their prey, which they take 

 either by surprise or pursuit, they display great activity. In 

 connection with the question of their architecture, it is only inght 

 here to explain that it consists of three distinct types : (first) the 

 retreat, consisting of a silken tube with two apertures, in which 

 the spider dwells during those periods when she is not moulting, 



* 



' Observ. s. 1. Araignees," Bull, de la Soc. des Naturalistes de St. 

 P^tersbourg, 1880; see also " L' Industrie des Araneina," Mem. de I'Acad. 

 Imp. des Sol. de St. P^tersbourg, vile Serie, Tome xlii. No. 11, 1894. 



