THE HUNTING SPIDERS. 659 



body alone being nearly an inch in length. Like the Pirate-spider, it is found in the 

 vicinity of water, and seems to be most common in the fens of Cambridgeshire. It 

 will often descend voluntarily below the surface of the water, its respiration being con- 

 ducted by means of the air-globules which cling to the mass of hairs with which its body 

 is covered. 



The cocoon of the female is brown in color, and of considerable size, containing 

 more than two hundred eggs. It is carried, like that of the preceding species, under the 

 thorax. The color of this spider is rich dark brown, with a broad band of yellowish 

 buff down each side, and a double row of little white spots on the abdomen. The 

 legs are paler, and of a more ruddy hue. Only three species are at present acknowl- 

 edged as British. 



WE now come to the beautiful Hunting Spiders, a family which is spread over the 

 world, and which has several British representatives. They are the very cheetahs, or 

 hunting leopards, of the Spider race, and have the mottled beauty as well as the active 

 limbs of the mammalian leopards. They can all run fast, and have also the power of 



Dolomides fi mbriatus. Dolomides miraiilis. 



leaping upon their prey to a considerable distance. They are mostly found upon walls, 

 among stones, or upon leaves. 



The handsome little spider that is called by the name of Eresus cinnabarinus is by 

 no means common in England, and may indeed be considered as one of our rarest 

 species. It is not very large, being only one-third of an inch in length, but its color is 

 extremely beautiful, the cephalothorax being deep velvety black, edged towards its 

 hinder margin with vermilion, and the whole upper part of the abdomen being colored 

 with the same brilliant hue. On the upper part of the abdomen are six square black 

 spots, the first four being large and the last two small. Each of these spots is edged 

 with pure white, and their effect against the rich scarlet of the abdomen is very fine. 



AT fig. C is given a specimen of the common HUNTING SPIDER of England, some- 

 times known by the names of Zebra-spider from its boldly-striped markings. 



This little spider is extremely common, and in the summer time may be seen on 

 almost every wall and tree trunk, busily hunting for prey. Even upon the window-sills 

 the Hunting Spider pursues its chase ; and as it is very bold and allows itself to be 



