NATURAL ENEMIES 79 



pitals. It will not be necessary, therefore, to give 

 spiders any extended consideration here. Mr. Nathan 

 Banks, the well-known writer on these interesting crea- 

 tures, has jotted down for the writer the following 

 brief notes on the subject: 



'The most common spider in houses is Theridium 

 tepidariormn Koch. It occurs throughout the civilized 

 world. It builds an irregular web in the upper corners 

 of rooms, and if the housewife is not too tidy, one may 

 often see flies in its webs. Steatoda borealis and Teiitana 

 friangulosa are related spiders, occurring in this coun- 

 try and in Europe; their webs are commonly under or 

 behind furniture, in darker places than those of the 

 Theridium. They do not catch as many flies, but their 

 webs are safer from the housekeeper's broom. 



''Agalena ncevia, a common field spider, is frequently 

 found in houses, especially outhouses, outside kitchens, 

 etc. ; sometimes they live in these double screens ; they 

 need some crack or hole in which to retire; the web 

 spreading fan-like from this hole, which they line with 

 silk. 



''Salticus sceniciis is a common jumping spider about 

 houses, usually on the outer side of houses, but often 

 seen on windows, where one may watch with much in- 

 terest their method of stalking and suddenly leaping 

 on unsuspecting flies. 



''In cellars, packing boxes, and other dark places, 

 other spiders occur; Tegenaria derhami and Amatiro- 

 biiis ferox being common in the United States and in 

 Europe. 



