PULMONARI.E. 309 



Various insects of the genus Sphex, Lin., (Wasps,) seize upon them, pierce 

 them with their sting, and transport them into holes where they have deposited 

 their eggs, as a source of food for their young. Most of them perish in 

 winter, but there are some which live several years such are the Mygales, the 

 Lycosae, and probably several others. 



M. Leon Dufour, who has published many excellent memoirs on the anatomy 

 of Insects, who has especially studied those of Valencia, among which he has 

 detected several new species, and to whose labours the science of botany is not 

 less indebted, has paid particular attention to the respiratory organs of Spiders, 

 and it is from him that we have taken our divisions, which consist of those 

 that have four pulmonary sacs with as many external stigmata, two on each 

 side, and closely approximated and of such as have but two. The first, 

 according to our method, form but the single genus 



MYGALE. 



Their eyes always situated at the anterior extremity of the thorax, and usually 

 closely approximated; feet and chelicerae robust. Most of them have but four 

 fusi*, of which the two lateral or external, situated somewhat above the others, 

 are longest, and consist of three segments, exclusive of the prominence that 

 forms their peduncle. They weave silken tubes in which they reside, and 

 which they conceal either in holes excavated by them for that purpose, or 

 under stones, bark of trees, or between leaves. 



This genus now forms several divisions, characterised by the number of fusi, 

 the relative difference in the length of the legs and the situations of the palpi, 

 in the 



MYGALE, Walckenaer, 



Or the true Mygales, the hairs which decorate the under part of their tarsi 

 form a thick and broad brush, projecting , beyond the hooks, and usually 

 concealing them. 



This division is composed of the largest species of the family, some of 

 which, when at rest, cover a circular space of from six to seven inches in 

 diameter. They sometimes seize upon Humming- Birds. They establish their 

 domicil in the clefts of trees, under the bark, in the fissures of rocks, or on the 

 surface of leaves of various plants. The cell of the Mygale avicularia has the 

 form of a tube, narrowed into a point at its posterior extremity. It consists of 

 a white web, of a close, very fine texture, semi-diaphanous, and resembling 

 muslin. 



South America and the Antilles produce other species, called by the French 

 colonists Araignees-crabes, or Crab-Spiders. Their bite is reputed to be 

 dangerous. A very large species M. fasciatais also found in the East 

 Indies. A species, nearly as large as the avicularia, inhabits the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



Filieres, i. e. the papillae or fusi through which tht thread passes. 



