Araneac. 101 



webs in the corners of cellars and ont-houses. The spiders of the Table-case 

 genus Desis, which occur on the coasts of South Africa, Malay •^°- ^^• 

 Peninsula, Burma, and Australasia, are marine in habit. They 

 live in holes and crannies in rocks or coral reefs, or under stones 

 between tide-marks. During high tide they remain shut up in their 

 waterproof cells of silk, leaving them at low water in search of 

 prey. Argyroncta aquatica, the European water-spider, is also a 

 member of this family. It is found in pools and ditches of fresh 

 water, and is widely distributed in this country. On account of its 

 interesting habits it is often kept in aquaria. 



Fam. — Eresidac. 



With the exception of the species belonging to the genus 

 StcgodypJius, these spiders are all burrowing forms. In the South 

 African genias Scothyra the aperture of the burrow is concealed by 

 a curious four-lobed, flexible flap or mat. The species of Stego- 

 dypliiis live on bushes ; some of them are solitary and construct a 

 sheet-like web accompanied by a tubular retreat ; other species 

 make a large saccular nest of leaves and web, in which hundreds 

 of individuals live together (the nest of a species from Calcutta is 

 shown in AVall-case 7). The spiders of this family are confined 

 to the old world. A single species (Eresus cinnaherinus) has 

 been found on two or three occasions in the South of England. 



Fam. — Di/sdcriihic. 



The members of this family live under stones, the bark of 

 trees, and other retired places. They do not spin a regular web, 

 but construct a tubular retreat or cell of silk. Nearly all of them 

 are inhabitants of temperate or warmer temperate countries. 



A coloured drawing of a common British species {Segcstria 

 .soiocitldta) is on cxlnl)ition in Table-case 23. 



Fam. — Salflclddc. 



The Salticidae are exceedingly numerous and are nearly always 

 of small size. They are wandering forms and do not spin webs, 

 l)ut lie in wait for their prey or stalk it, and then seize it with a 

 sudden jump. Many of the tropical forms are beautifully coloured; 

 the males are often more vividly colom-ed than the females, and 

 their antics when courting are often of a very curious nature. They 

 execute intricate movements and dances before the females, moving 

 so as to display to advantage their beauty of form and colouring. 



