io8 



THE COMMON SPIDERS 



and bushes. They are generally small, soft, and light-colored 

 spiders, with the abdomen large and round and the legs slender 

 and usually without spines. The eyes are all about the same 

 size and in two rows across the front of the head, with the 

 lateral eyes of the two rows near together and often touching 

 each other. The mandibles are weak and without teeth at 

 the end. The maxillae are pointed at the end and turned 



Fig. 254. Webs of Theridium in a fog, on the tops of golden-rod. 

 One-third the real size. 



inward toward each other. Most of the Therididae live always 

 in their webs, hanging by their feet, back downward. The webs 

 have in some part a more closely woven place under which the 

 spider stands, sometimes in the middle of the web, sometimes in 

 a corner out of sight. Where the spider's usual standing place 

 is without other shelter, it is often concealed by pieces of leaves 

 or sand carried into the web by the spider, and sometimes 



