30 



liumul oi Entomology and Zoolog\ 



oi large vines. I heridiidae were found in meter boxes and barns; 



the Attul.r wore collected in Imperial Valle) under rocks; the 

 1 ycosidae which were collected during the month oi April, were 

 found in the grass with the females carrying the egg cases. The 

 young oi I homisidae were found, no eggs having been collected, 



the shape oi the egg cases oi the several species studied dif- 

 fered materially. Those oi P< . . ridatis are. as Comstock 

 describes it, "hemispherical in outline with small projecting tufts." 

 I he egg sae oi dranea gemma is a light brown "loose flocculent 

 mass ot silk enclosing the ball oi eggs." lite egg ease o\ most ot 

 the 1 homisidae, Comstock describes as being "lenticular in form" 

 and are usually formed oi two equal valves united at the border. 

 which presents a little circular fringe. The egg ease of P 

 inns is made up ot two disks which are fastened closely to the bark 

 ot the trees and m.n be more than lenticular in shape. In the sub- 

 family Misumeiiiuti the egg sae is sometimes free and sometimes 

 suspended like a hammock in a retreat formed ot leaves rolled oi 

 drawn together. In most eases after the egg sae is made, the fe- 

 male stops her wandering habits in order to watch it. The egg sa( 

 oi Latrodectus mactans is made up ot a round closely woven silk 

 ball, hard on the exterior .\\u\ soft on the interior. Oust soon col- 

 lects on the egg sae which gives it a dirty white color. Thcv are 

 suspended from the web b\ a tew loose threads. The 1 ycosidae 

 tie their children to their apron strings. The females were found 

 m great abundance in the earl} spring holding the flat circular egg 

 ease firmly with their mandibles. These eases were held up off 

 the ground when the female mined and were dropped if she was 

 disturbed. In the confined specimens the female upon being dis- 

 turbed would drop her bundle, but as soon as the disturbance was 

 over she would pick up the ease again. The Attidae were all col 

 leeted from a \a!lc\ with a warm climate .\nol seemed to resent the 

 change when the\ were placed in the cooler atmosphere ot tlu 

 laboratory. Their egg cases were ot a \er\ fine soft white silk .\nJ 

 were attached to the under side ot a rock, using the rock as on< 

 side .\no\ building the nest around that side. One female laid her 

 eggs m captivity. 1 he ease was the same as those on the iv,v- 

 but one side oi the glass was used as a foundation. As there we-, 



