244 ABOUT SPIDERS ANT) THEIR WEBS. 



name of " Tarentella," was thought to have a special 

 efficacy in such cases. 



In Jamaica and Australia, the name of Tarantula is 

 mostly applied to various species of trap-door spider. 

 And, as if to increase the error, the Australian colonists 

 persist in pronouncing the word as Triantelope. 



The commonest British Wolf spider is called Lycosa 

 campestis, and may be seen running about our fields and 

 lawns. In the summer time, the female always has a 

 little globular packet of eggs, done up in a silk bag. 

 This burden she instinctively cherishes even at the risk 

 of her life, but she has so little discrimination that if the 

 bag be taken from her, and a little ball of cotton-wool 

 laid in her way, she will pick it up, carry it about, and 

 be perfectly satisfied. 



Some species of Wolf spider haunt the edges of ponds 

 and sluggish ditches. They can run along the surface 

 for the purpose of seizing their prey, and even crawl 

 down the stems of aquatic plants to some depth, carrying 

 with them sufficient air for respiration. They do not, 

 however, dive, like the genuine Water spider. 



The really beautiful Hunting spiders may be known 

 by their variegated bodies, which are striped with white 

 or yellow on a dark ground. From this colouring they 

 derive the popular names of Leopard spider, or Zebra 

 spider. They are rather flat-bodied, small, and can be 

 at once recognised by their quick, jerking movements. 



Hunting spiders are mostly to be found on walls with 

 a sunny aspect, evidently because flies haunt such spots. 



