664 THE SPIDERS. 



They all spin those remarkable nets which we popularly call " webs," 

 and which differ wonderfully in the various species. These webs are 

 in very many instances employed as traps, wherein may be caught the 

 prey on which the Spider feeds, but in other cases are only used as 

 houses wherein the creature can reside. Some of the uses to which these 

 wonderful productions are put, as well as some details of their structure, 

 will presently be mentioned. 



We now pass to some typical species of these curious animals. 



The Spiders belonging to the family of Mygalidse may at once be 

 known by the shape of their mandibles and the terrible claws which 

 proceed from them. In the greater number of Spiders the claws are set- 

 horizontally, but in the Mygalidse they are bent downward, and strike 

 the prey much as a lion clutches at his victim with his curved talons. 



The Great Crab Spider belongs to the typical genus of this family, 

 and is one of the formidable Arachnida that prey upon young birds 

 and other small vertebrates, instead of limiting themselves to the in- 

 sects and similar beings which constitute the food of the generality of 

 the Spider race. 



The talons of the spiders are scientifically called by the appropriate 

 name of /a/ce*% the word being Latin, and signifying "a reaping-hook." 

 By this name they will be called in the course of the following pages. 

 The fUlces of the Great Crab Spiders are of enormous size, and when 

 removed from the creature and set in gold they are used as toothpicks, 

 being thought to possess some occult virtue which drives away the 

 toothache. 



The curious Trap-door Spider of Jamaica, erroneously called the 

 Tarantula, digs a burrow in the earth and lines it with a silken web, 

 but, instead of merely protecting the entrance by a portion of the silken 

 tube, it proves itself a more complete architect by making a trap-door 

 with a hinge that permits it to be opened and closed with admirable 

 accuracy. The door is beautifully circular, and is made of alternate 

 layers of earth and web and hinged to the lining of the tube by a band 

 of the same silken secretion. It exactly fits the entrance of the bur- 

 row, and when closed so precisely corresponds with the surrounding 

 earth that it can hardly be distinguished, even when its position is 

 pointed out. It is a strange sight to see the earth open, a little lid 

 raised, some hairy legs protrude, and gradually the whole form of the 

 spider show itself. 



The curious and interesting Water Spider is now flir better known 

 than was formerly the case, as the numerous aquaria that have been 

 established over the kingdom have tended to fiimiliarize us with this as 

 well as with many other inhabitants of the water. 



This creature leads a strange life. Though really a terrestrial being 

 and needing to respire atmospheric air, it passes nearly the whole of 



