324 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



Many Theridioids also bear beautiful and delicate colors, the varied 

 hues and shades of green, yellow, and brown being particularly noticeable 

 in this group. Some of the genera, as the parasitic species of 

 eau 1 u ^j.gyj.Q^gg^ j^pg covered with burnished silver. Of these two 

 tribes of Sedentary spiders it may be affirmed that they contain, 

 in all portions of the world, and particularly in trojiical countries, exam- 

 ples of as delicate and brilliant coloring as may be found elsewhere in 

 Nature. 



But the coloring of Orbweavers and Lineweavers is prol)ably even ex- 

 ceeded by that of the Saltigrades, which is as rich as that of humming- 

 birds or beetles, according to Professor and Mrs. Peckham. The most bril- 

 liant family of this tribe, the Attidte, especially, contains examples of 

 brilliant ornamentation. Of some of these araneads Wallace says that they 

 are noticeable for their immense numbers, variety, and beauty. They fre- 

 quent foliage and flowers, run about actively in pursuit of small insects, 

 and many of them are so exquisitely colored as to resemble jewels rather 

 than spiders. 1 Elsewhere he speaks of the abundance and variety of the 

 little jumping .spiders which abound on flowers and foliage, and are often 

 perfect gems of beauty.'^ Most travelers in South America who have care- 

 fully observed aranead life, agree with Bates that the number of 

 T °\ spiders ornamented with showy colors is remarkalde.''' Professor 

 Peckham makes the strong assertion, which my own experience 

 confirms, that a large collection of spiders from the tropics is almost 

 certain to contain as great a proportion of beautifully colored specimens 

 as would be found among an equal number of birds from the same re- 

 gion. ■* 



Some of the Laterigrades also are richly colored. We have several 

 species in the neighborhood of Philadelphia that would attract the admi- 

 ration of any observer. The yellow and brown markings, varied with red 

 and purple, which characterize the familiar Misumena vatia (Plate III., 

 Fig. 1), may often be observed in the midst of wild flowers of our fields. 

 A small species, apparently of Philodromus, which I am not able to iden- 

 tify, is remarkable for its plea.sant grass green hues, with markings of 

 bright red and brown ujion the legs and jialps. The most brilliant color- 

 ing appears to be confined to these four tribes, namely, Orbweavei's and 

 Lineweavers among the Sedentaries, and Saltigrades and Laterigrades among 

 the Wanderers. Tubeweavers and Tunnelweavers among the Sedentaries, 

 and Citigrades among the Wanderers, are, for the most part, distinguished 

 by dull and inconspicuous coloring, though it is highly probable that a 

 wider knowledge of the species of these three tribes will uncover many 

 decorated species. 



' Tropical Nature, pajif 97. - iMalay Archipelago, pjisie 437. 



^ Naturalist uu tlie Amazons, Vol. I., page lOG. ■" Sexual Selection in Spiders, page 10. 



