SPIDERS 173 



a rope, leaving it dangling below. It cannot eat it, for it climbs too fast 

 for such an operation though on other occasions it does so. Then what is 

 the answer ? It is that the spider rapidly winds up the thread upon its legs 

 in a sort of skein as it ascends. This it can rapidly pay out for the purposes 

 of descent, as may be noticed when a spider ascending its rope suddenly drops 

 four or five inches instantaneously. 



The following are the chief families of British spiders : 



Tribe I. OCTONOCULINA (" Eight-eyed "). 



Family i. Mygalidce (only one British representative). 



ii. Lycosidce (Wolf Spiders). 



iii. Salticidce (" Leaping" Spiders). 



iv. Thomisidce (very crab-like in appearance). 



All catch their prey 

 by hunting ; all 

 have three pairs of 

 spinnerets. 



v. Drassidce (including the Water Spiders). 

 vi. Ciniflonidce (four pairs of spinnerets). \ All weave snares, 

 vii. Agelenidce (weave webs of great extent). and have three 



viii. Theridiidce (snares of irregular masses). \ pairs of spinnerets 

 ix. Linyphiidce (fine horizontal sheets of web). I (except Family 

 x. Epdridce (the well-known geometric webs)./ vi.). 



Tribe II. SENOCULINA (" Six-eyed "). 



Family i. Dysderidce (making lairs beneath stones, etc., and hunting their 



prey). 



ii. Scytodidce (making a slight web; female carrying her cocoon 

 with her, but not attached, as in the case of the Lycosidce). 



As so little information is given on this subject in most books, the following 

 notes on some of the species may be of value. 



Tribe I. OCTONOCULINA. 



Family i. Mygalidce. Genus i. Atypus. Eyes arranged thus : o 



recognized by the great size of the cephalo-thorax and fakes ; reddish brown. 

 Makes a tunnel in the ground, lined with white silk. 



o Q 

 Family ii. Lycosidce. Genus i. Lycosa. Position of eyes : o Q 



O 



These "Wolf Spiders" make no snares, but carry cocoon and young upon 

 their bodies. The female fights to protect her cocoon, and if deprived of it 

 will remain in the same spot hunting for it sometimes until she dies. Very 

 rapid in movement when darting on their prey. Lycosa piratica pursues its 

 prey on the surface of water, and will dive, if necessary, for refuge. See also 

 ARGYRONETA. 



Genus ii. Dolomedes. Position of eyes : o o ; found in wooded dis- 



o o 



tricts. One of these carries her cocoon until the time of hatching, when she 



