POOD OF INSECTS. 423 



M. Honiberg tells us that he has seen a vigorous wasp 

 carried off and destroyed by one of these species. 



The spiders, to which I have hithert(5 adverted, seize 

 their pi'ey by means of webs or nets ; but a very large 

 number, though, like the former, they spin silken co- 

 coons for containing their eggs, never employ the same 

 material in constructing similar snares, of which they 

 make no use. 



These may be separated into two grand divisions ; 

 the first comprising those which conceal themselves 

 and lie in ambuscade for their prey, and sometimes run 

 after it to a short distance; the second, those which are 

 constantly roaming about in every direction in search of 

 it, and seize it by open violence. The former Walcke- 

 naer, in his admirable work on spiders, has designated 

 by the name of Vagrants^ the latter by that of Hunters ; 

 terming those already mentioned which spin webs and 

 nets, Sedentaries : if to these you add the Szioimmers^ 

 or those species which catch their prey in the water, 

 you will have an idea of tlie general manners of the 

 whole race of spiders. 



The artifices of that tribe which Walckenaer has 

 named vagrants are various and singular. A. holosC' 

 ricea and many other species conceal themselves in a 

 little cell formed of the rolled-up leaf of a plant, and 

 thence dart upon any insect which chances to pass ; 

 while A. atrox and its affinities select for their place of 

 ambush a hole in a wall, or lurk behind a stone, or in 

 the bark of a tree. A. cali/dna more ingeniously places 

 herself at the bottom of the calyx of a dead flower, and 

 pounces upon the unwary flies that come in search of 



