THE HARVEST-SPIDER. 511 



creature derives its name from a triple yellow cross upon a dark brown band that runs along 

 the central line of the back of its abdomen. 



A SPIDER which presents a very strange appearance is called the NOPS. It is an arachnid 

 which has only two eyes instead of eight or six, but in which these organs are so enormously 

 large that their dimensions compensate for their paucity of number. On the front portion of 

 the cephalo-thorax there is a black spot, and on this spot are seated the two eyes, round, 

 globular, black, and brilliant. It is one of the hard-skinned species, and appears to be allied 

 both to Gasteracantha and Epeira, in spite of its two eyes. 



It is mostly found under stones in woods, and in such localities is tolerably plentiful, but 

 is very rare in houses, though it does sometimes make its appearance in the dwellings. The 

 coloring of the Nops is very simple, the cephalo-thorax being ruddy brown and the abdomen 

 dark brown. It is not a large species considering that it lives in a hot country, measuring 

 rather less than half an inch in length. It is believed to be the only known spider that 

 possesses only two eyes. This species is an inhabitant of Cuba. 



Another remarkable arachnid, termed OTIOTIIOPS, is especially notable from the fact that 

 its two hinder eyes are united together. This spider is a native of Cuba, and is generally 

 found under stones in well-wooded places, and, like the last-mentioned species, has a hard and 

 shelly skin. In length it is rather under half an inch. 



SIX-EYED ARACHNIDA; SENOCULATA. 



WITH the exception of the curious spiders just mentioned, the species which have been 

 described bear eight eyes, or rather ocelli, very like the organs of the same name in insects, 

 and arranged upon the cephalo-thorax in various patterns. One well-known writer on the 

 Arachnida has based his system entirely upon the number and arrangement of these ocelli ; 

 but the zoologists of the present day seem to think that such a system is insufficient for such 

 a purpose, though very useful and, indeed, palpably so as a subordinate means of arrange- 

 ment. The next group of spiders are in reality separated by the fact that they possess only 

 six eyes, and are therefore called Senoculata, or Six-eyed Arachnida, the preceding belonging 

 to the group of Octonoculina, or Eight-eyed Arachnida. 



This species of Dysdera has lately attracted much attention, for, although it is properly a 

 native of Southern Germany, it has lately been discovered in other European countries too. 



It can easily be identified by its straight jaws, its powerful falces, and its six eyes arranged 

 in a form something like that of a horseshoe, two small ocelli in front and four larger behind 

 It has altogether a reddish cast ; and its length is more than half an inch. 



A pretty spider, which is known under the name of SCYTODES, is found both in Europe 

 and Africa, but only in the hotter parts of the former continent. It may be identified by its 

 six eyes arranged in pairs, and its elegant coloring, which is pinky-white, with two rows of 

 black spots on the abdomen and black rings on the legs. Its eyes are brilliant yellow. The 

 female always uses her jaws in carrying the cocoon, which is about the size of an ordinary pea. 



In the illustration of the SEGESTRIUM, both sexes are given, in order to show their different 

 shape and comparative dimensions. The three forms are magnified, and the lines underneath 

 the male and the female indicate the natural size of both. 



The Segestrium also has six eyes, and is found in Europe. It lives mostly in hollows of 

 walls and rocks, spinning a silken tube in which it conceals itself, and holding in its feet the 

 lines which communicate with the exterior. The tube is open at both ends, so that when the 

 spider feels either of the lines shaken, it can dart out at once upon its prey. 



The common HARVEST-SPIDER, or HARVEST-MAN (Thalangium longipes), is a very common 

 and well-known inhabitant of Europe, and, whether in gardens or in the open field, is to be 

 found in very great numbers. 



Sometimes the Harvest-spider is seen scrambling over the grass with wonderful speed, its 

 little round body hardly discernible as it moves along, and its long straggling legs looking like 



