272 



FARM AND GARDEN 



the abdomen and the pincers reddish, a spine on the last segment of the abdomen, 

 and twelve-jointed antenna?. 



Leaving the insects and passing on to the spiders, it may be 

 ii( it iced that the window-spider (Epeira calophylla), which is about a 

 quarter of an inch in length, and of a pale yellowish colour with a black edge and stripe 

 on its breast, and a greyish white abdomen, generally selects warm situations for its 

 residences ; it is specially characterised by its leaf-shaped back enclosing a few spots 

 and cross lines and having a black and white edge. The web is always placed 

 horizontally. More frequent is the house-spider (Tegenaria domestica), which spins 

 its web — also horizontally — in houses, stables, and other places, generally in a corner 

 formed by two walls : the weaver lying concealed in some neighbouring crevice. 



WEAVEK HARVEST-SI'IDEK. 



Nearly a quarter of an inch long, this spider is dark brown in colour, with a grey 

 mark down the thorax, a rusty red stripe along the abdomen, and light yellow spots 

 on its sides, the legs being marked with yellow circles. It is a member of the group 

 of tube-spiders, so called from their tubular or tunnel-shape webs, which serve at the 

 same time for nests and for the reception of the egg-bags, and have generally two 

 holes, one for entrance and the other for exit. The jumping-spiders, on the other 

 hand, leap at their prey, and, instead of a web, spin only a small bag from which 

 they peep out with their strong and piercing eyes. A common type is the 

 harlequin-spider (Epiblemv/m scenicum), which lives on clay, wood, or walls, where 

 it hunts for insects; it is a quarter of an inch in length, and principally black, 

 although there is a white forked spot on its white-edged breast and three cross- 

 bands on the abdomen. In the females the legs are white, but in the males black 

 with brownish yellow foot-joints. 



