CCELOTES SAXATILIS. 



507 



A PRETTY species of another family is the Agelena IdbyrintJiica. It is found plentifully 

 on heaths and commons, and derives its specific name from the complicated nature of its web. 

 This is a very large structure when compared with the dimensions of its architect, and is 

 spread almost horizontally over the tops of furze, heath, and the other plants which are found 

 on commons. It is a tolerably massive web, and well calculated for catching prey. Unlike 

 the garden-spider, which boldly sits in the middle of the web, trusting to the delicate meshes 

 escaping the eyes of flying insects, the Agelena does not trust itself in sight, but sits in its 

 dark cavern, which communicates with the web by means of a silken tunnel. 



The Tegenaria domestica, belonging to another genus, is a fine spider which is mostly 

 found in old houses, chiefly haunting the corners, and spinning a thick, horizontal sheet of 

 web, and forming a rather stout, silken tube as a communication between the web and the den 

 where the spider sits and watches for its prey. Both figures of our illustration are of natural 

 size. The well-known Cardinal-spider, which frightens ignorant persons by its large size, is 

 probably a variety of this species. The web is always very completely supported by guy 

 ropes, which are laid with the greatest care, and disposed as artistically as if arranged by a 

 professional architect. 



Like the preceding species, this spider makes several dish-shaped cocoons, surrounds them 

 with a coarse envelope, and covers the white silken cases with bits of old mortar, fragments of 

 wood, particles of whitewash, or any other substance that can be easily obtained. These 

 cocoons are to be seen in June and July. 



The color of this species is ruddy brown, dark brown, and buff, the first tint being drawn 

 in a broad band along the whole body, the second being the ground tint, and the third being 

 formed with rows of spots on each side of the central line. The limbs are banded with 

 reddish-brown and black. The male is smaller than the female, darker colored, and has his 

 legs proportionately longer. The average length of the body is nearly three-quarters of an 

 inch, so that the spread of limb is, in a fine specimen, very considerable. This species occa- 

 sions dire tumults in the minds of housemaids, who sweep away the webs with ruthless broom, 

 and give the spider no hope of a peaceful home. 



There are several species of Tegenaria, all having very similar habits. In one species, it 

 has been found that the spider changes its skin, or moults, nine times before they reach adult 

 age, the first moult being achieved while in the cocoon, and the remaining eight after the 



HOUSE SPIDER. Tegenaria domestica. (a, male; and beneath, the position of the eyes; b, female.) 



yonng have left their silken cradle. It has, moreover, been proved by actual experiment, that 

 a limb may be removed at the joint and renewed many times in succession, the new limb 

 appearing after the next moult. The life of this species averages four years. 



A PRETTY spider, which is termed Ccelotes saxatilis, is rather more than half an inch in 

 length ; but, owing to the shortness of the limbs, it does not present so formidable an aspect 

 as many of less real dimensions. The female of this species makes a curious and rather large 



