100 Guide to Arachnida. 



Table-case Specimens of this spider have been found at University College, 

 London, and also at Bristol, but since tropical conditions appear 

 to be essential to its existence, there is little likelihood of its 

 becoming an established species in this country. Some of the 

 smaller forms are remarkable for the closeness with wliich they 

 mimic ants. The Clubionidae are cosmopolitan in distribution. 



Fam. — Lycosidac. 



On account of their predatory habits these spiders are commonly 

 known as wolf-spiders. With the exception of the species belonging 

 to the group Hippaseae, which spin large webs, accompanied by 

 tubular retreats, similar to those of Agclcna and its allies, they do 

 not construct snares. The majority of the Lycosidae do not 

 make a regular nest ; a number of species, however, construct 

 burrows in the ground similar to those of the trap-door spiders, 

 and some of them surround the aperture w^ith a tower of twigs 

 (e.g. Lijcosa arenicola, a species which occurs in the United 

 States, exhibited in Wall-case 7) or grass, or even close it with 

 a neat trap-door. The female spider carries the cocoon about 

 with her, attached to the spinning mammillae. On leaving the 

 cocoon the young spiders climb on to the back of the mother, 

 attaching themselves by threads, and are carried about by her in 

 this fashion for several days. The spider encumbered thus by her 

 living burden presents an interesting and curious spectacle. 



The name " Tarantula " is loosely applied to many large spiders 

 of various kinds. It should really be restricted to the Italian 

 species Lycosa tarentula (and its allies), which first received the 

 name from its abundance near the town of Taranto or Tarentum. 

 Amongst the Italian peasantry there still prevails an ancient 

 superstition that the poisonous bite of this spider gives rise to a 

 sickness called Tarentism. The chief specific for the malady is 

 music, which incites the victim to dance in a frenzied and violent 

 manner, and to continue the exercise until the outbreak of a pro- 

 fuse perspiration effects the cure by getting rid of the poison. 



Fam. — Agelenidae. 



These spiders are sedentary web-spinning forms. Their snare 

 usually consists of a large horizontal sheet of web, with one or 

 two tubular retreats leading from it. Perhaps the most familiar 

 of them are the house-spiders {Tegcnnria), which construct untidy 



