PREFACE. 



proper, therefore, that the work thus done sliould be preserved to science 

 in connection with the descriptions of the animals' hfe history. But the 



author has to admit that tliis part of his work grew in his 

 J'*^ ° hands far beyond tlie bounds of his first intent, and finally 



shaped itself into the resolve to publish descriptions and plates 

 not only of the Orbweavers whose habits he had described, but of all 

 accessible American siiecies of that group. In this matter he has been 

 led along step by step, adding species to species, page to page, and plate 

 to plate, by a desire to make his work yet more and more complete. 

 Working naturalists, at least, will sympathize with and appreciate this fact. 

 This descriptive work has made the closing volume in many respects 

 the most difficult one of the series. To one who has to deal with small 



animals, scientific description is always a laborious service. 

 Descrip- 'When it is impossible to mount these animals in any satisfac- 

 Tjj , tory way, as is the case with spiders, and one is compelled to 



labor with alcoholic siiecimens, many of which are minute and 

 mutilated, and often with unique examples in hand which may not be 

 broken up for convenient study, the ordinary difficulties are much in- 

 creased. Nevertheless, the work has not been an unpleasant one ; for 

 there is a fascination about studies in classification which every true 

 naturalist has felt. Dry and uninteresting as the details usually are to the 

 general public, to the specialist they have peculiar interest. The comparison 

 of species with species and genus with genus ; the task of separating on 

 this side and on that ; of solving the numerous problems that are constantly 

 arising, and other duties of a like kind, bring into play some of the most 

 pleasing faculties of the intellect, and contribute largely to tlie enjoyment 

 of the systematic naturalist. Nevertheless, to one who can only labor at 

 odd hours, and who is thus apt to lose the connection established by long 

 and careful comparisons, the pleasure is much marred. This has been the 

 author's estate, and will add to the satisfaction which he will feel should 

 it be judged that he has wrought with reasonable accuracy. 



In this connection it is proper to say that the increased cost of printing 

 text and plates made it necessary two years ago to notify the public that 

 the original price of ten dollars per volume, or thirty dollars 

 th R° k ^^^' ^^^^ entire set, including plates, must be increased to fifty 

 dollars the set. All subscribers at the original price will be 

 served with Volume III. without additional charge, but others must pay 

 the advanced price. The author feels compelled to make this statement 

 here in order to relieve himself from the painful duty of refusing requests, 

 of which some have already come, to sell the work at the first named price. 

 Even at the price now named, subscribers will receive the work at less than 

 its actual cost ; a statement which is made not in the way of complaint, 

 for which there is no reason at all ; nor to excite sympathy, which is 

 neither required nor desired, but to give a plain and honest reason for a 



