310 AUACHMDES. 



In the following Mygales, the superior extremity of the first joint of the 

 chelicera- presents a series of spines, articulated and inoveable at base, and" 

 forming a sort of rake. The tarsi are less pilose underneath than in the 

 preceding division, and their hooks are always exposed. 



These species, in the dry and mountain districts of the south of Europe and 

 of some other countries, excavate subterraneous galleries, which are frequently 

 two feet in depth, and so extremely tortuous, that, according to Dufour, it is 

 frequently impossible to trace them. At the mouth, they construct a moveable 

 operculum with earth and silk, fixed by a hinge, which, from its form, nicely 

 adjusted to the aperture, its inclination, its weight, and the superior position 

 of the hinge, spontaneously shuts, and completely closes the entrance of their 

 habitation, forming a kind of trap-door, which is scarcely distinguishable from 

 the surrounding earth. Its inner surface is lined with a layer of silk, to which 

 the animal clings, in order to keep its door shut and prevent intruders from 

 opening it. If it be slightly raised, it is a sure indication that the owner is 

 within. Unearthed, by laying open the gallery front of the entrance, it 

 becomes stupified, and allows itself to be captured without resistance. A 

 silken tube, or the nest properly so called, lines the inside of the gallery. 

 There are several species. 



The remaining subgenera are Atyjrus, Eriodon, &c., differing in the inser- 

 tion of the palpi, the ligula, number of eyes, &c. 



We now pass to Araneides with but one pair of pulmonary sacs, and as 

 many stigmata. They all have palpi formed of rive joints, inserted into the 

 external side of the jaws near their base, and most frequently in a sinus ; a 

 ligula extending between them either nearly square, triangular, or semi-circular, 

 and six fusi at the extremity. 



With the exception of a few species, which enter into the genus Mygale, 

 they compose that of 



ARANEA, Linnceus. 



A first division will comprehend the ARANEA SEOENTAHIJE, or Sedentary 

 Spiders. They make webs, or throw out threads to ensnare their prey, and 

 always remain in these traps, or their vicinity, as well as near their eggs. 

 Their eyes are approximated anteriorly and are sometimes eight in number, of 

 which four or two are in the middle, and two or three on each side, and 

 sometimes six. 



Some, which, from the circumstance of their always moving forwards, we 

 term the RECTIGIIADJE, weave webs and are stationary ; their legs are elevated 

 when at rest; sometimes the two first and two last are the longest, and at 

 others those of the two anterior pairs, or the fourth and the third. The 

 general arrangement of the eyes does not form the segment of a circle or a 

 crescent. 



They may be divided into three sections : the first, or that of the Tubitelsc, 

 has cylindrical fusi approximated into a fasciculus directed backwards; the 

 legs are robust, the two first or the two last, and vice versa, longest in some, 

 and the whole eight nearly "equal in others. 



