500 THE HUNTING SPIDERS. 



the whole upper part of the abdomen being colored with the same brilliant hue. On the upper 

 part of the abdomen are six square black spots, the first four being large and the last two 

 small Each of these spots is edged with pure white, and their effect against the rich scarlet 

 of the abdomen is very fine. 



The common HUNTING SPIDER, sometimes known by the name of Zebra-spider, from its 

 boldly-striped markings, is very frequently found, and in the summer time may be seen on 

 almost every wall and tree-trunk, busily hunting for prey. Even upon the window-sills the 

 Hunting Spider pursues its chase ; and as it is very bold and allows itself to be approached 

 quite closely, its proceedings are easily watched. When it sees a fly or other insect which it 

 thinks suitable for food, it sidles quietly in the direction of its intended victim, keeping a most 

 careful watch, and ever drawing nearer to its prey. As the fly moves, so moves the Spider, 

 until the two beings almost seem to be urged by a common instinct. Surely and gradually it 

 makes its way towards the unsuspecting fly, and then, with a leap so quick that the eye can 

 scarcely follow its movements, it springs upon its prey, rolls perhaps over and over in a short 

 struggle, and in a few moments emerges victorious from the contest, its former antagonist 

 dead or dying in its grasp. I have witnessed such a scene hundreds of times, as the garden in 

 which I passed many years was furnished with long ranges of old walls full of crevices that 

 were exactly suited to the purposes of the Hunting Spider. 



Even on a perpendicular wall the Spider will make these leaps. It is sure not to fall to 

 the ground, because it always draws a silken cord behind as it moves, and so, whenever it 

 leaps upon its prey, it is saved by its self -woven ladder, and reascends, bearing its dead victim 

 in its grasp. 



While engaged in its search, the Hunting Spider is all full of animation. It traverses the 

 wall with great speed -and in a very jerky manner, first darting this way, then running that 

 way, then diving into a crevice, then running out and looking around. Sometimes, when it 

 wishes to extend its sphere of vision, it raises the whole front part of the body by simply 

 straightening the fore-legs, and it is surprising what a knowing look it assumes when in that 

 position. 



This is a handsome species to examine when under a low power of the microscope, say 

 about twenty-five diameters. Its color is brown, banded obliquely with white. The female 

 does not carry her eggs with her, but wraps them in either one or two cocoons, and hides them 

 in some secure spot, such as the crevices in rocks, and under the bark of trees. Only fifteen 

 or sixteen eggs are placed in each cocoon. 



Other species of this interesting genus are termed Salticus blackwallii and Salticus formi- 

 carius. The former is a really large species, measuring one-third of an inch in length. Its 

 color is grayish-black, spotted with a darker hue, and sundry short bands of the same color 

 are drawn diagonally over the cephalo-thorax and the edges of the abdomen. A band of dull 

 yellow is drawn along either side of the abdomen. The latter species is extremely rare, and is 

 remarkable for its ant-like shape. The great mandibles are rather dark brown, and the front 

 half of the cephalo-thorax is nearly of the same hue, but with more black. The entire centre 

 of the body is buff, and the latter half of the abdomen is black-brown, divided from the buff 

 by a white band. 



The last species we will mention is the very remarkable Myrmarachna melanocephala. It 

 is even more ant-like than the preceding species. Its mandibles are of very great size, and its 

 attenuated abdomen is acorn-like in form. It is a native of Bengal, and is wonderfully like 

 the inutilla, that terrible ant which has already been described on page 401. It is notable 

 for several reasons, among which may be the fact that its head seems to be nearly distinct 

 from the thorax, a structure quite unlike that of the arachnida, from the mygale to the 

 cheesemite. It is thought to eat ants as well as to resemble them. The head, if it may be 

 so called, of this curious Spider is black, and the remainder is red. It is about half an 

 inch in length. 



I may mention here, that Spiders, like the Crustacea, are apt to be terribly quarrelsome ; 

 and the strangest part of their nature is, that they are most combative during the season 

 of love. In many species, especially those where the male is of insignificant dimensions 



