GO-2 



AKTICULATA, 



THE DIVING-SPIDER AND ITS NESTS SHOWN ABOVE THE WATER. 



THE ARANEID^. 



These have the eyes in two rows, one behind the other ; they usually possess six spinnerets 

 and only a sino;le pair of pulmonary sacs. All these spiders spin themselves a dwelling-place, 

 which is generally connected with a net for the capture of prey. Perhaps the best known of 

 these is the Garden-Spider, already described, and whose threads often force themselves upon 

 our attention. 



This species forms one of the most beautiful of what are called geometrical wehs ; many of the 

 others form a somewhat similar structure, although without displaying the same wonderful 

 regularity. Of these the Malmignatte, Theridion mahnignatta, much dreaded in the south of 

 Europe, is an example. Our conunon House-Spider, which we have just mentioned, belongs to 

 this group. Another remarkable member is the Diving-Spider, Argyroneta aquatica, which 

 weaves itself a curious little bell-shaped dwelling at the bottom of the water, to which it 

 retires to devour its prey. As, notwithstanding its aquatic habits, this animal, like the rest of its 

 class, is fitted only for aerial respiration, it takes care to fill its miniature dome with air, which 



it carries down with it from the surface among the hairs 

 with which its body is thickly clothed: a process very 

 closely resembling that by which the earliest diving-bells 

 Avere supplied with air. 



THE LYCOSID^. 



Unlike the Araneidfe, the animals of this family never 

 construct regular webs for the capture of prey, their utmost 

 exertion of instinct, in this direction, consisting in laying 

 a few threads in the neighborhood of their dwelling-place. 

 They generally live under stones, in holes in the earth, or 

 in old walls, sometimes lining their habitations with a 

 silky tapestry ; and some, which live upon trees, weave 

 themselves a silken nest among the leaves or on the 

 branches. They all take their prey by force ; some of 

 them running it down by swiftness of foot, while others 

 spring suddenly upon their unwary victims. The most celebrated of these spiders is the 



THE TARANTULA. 



