176 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



some portion of this web a long tube leads downwards into one or more cham- 

 bers, open at the farther end. In the mouth the spider may often be seen 

 on the watch for its victims. Another species (A. elegans) spreads its snare 

 over holes in the earth, such as hoof-marks of cattle. 



Genus ii. Tegenaria. Eyes thus 1 , the four middle eyes making 



almost a perfect square. To this genus belong the Common House Spiders. 

 T. domestica places her dusty web in corners of old buildings, covering 

 the cocoon with fragments of whitewash and plaster. The web may last 

 for several seasons, and if vacated by its owner is taken possession of by a 

 newcomer. T. atica is found in houses, conservatories, etc. T, civilis has 

 been known to live for four years in her corner of the ceiling, and to produce 

 several broods. 



Genus iii. C (dotes. Eyes Q o *. 



Genus iv. Textrix. Eyes o o, the middle pair of the back row being 

 largest. 



Family viii. Theridiidce. Genus i. Theridion. Position of eyes o 



Snares spun on bushes and plants horizontally. T, lineatum is very common, 

 and is greenish or yellowish white, sometimes with crimson markings. The 

 cocoon is bluish or greenish in colour. T. nervosum (| of an inch long) may 

 be found hi a bush or shrub in June or July. The web is slight, but forms a 

 kind of pent-house, the nest being quite tent-like in shape, and frequently 

 covered with small dead leaves, or parts of flowers and insects. Within is 

 a round green cocoon, almost always embraced by the female upside down. 



Genus ii. Pholcus. Position of eyes Q O * ^>. P. phalangoides has very 



long legs, and a long narrow abdomen, thus making it easy to identify. 

 Its snares may often be found in the corners of ceilings. The female carries 

 her cocoon in her falces, or jaws, and continues to do this even when the eggs 

 are hatched. The species has a curious habit (shared by a very few species) 

 of agitating the body when alarmed, or when an insect is snared, thus vibrating 

 the web and causing the insect to entangle itself still more firmly by its 

 struggles. 



Family ix. Linyphiidce. Genus i. Linyphia. Position of the eyes o J o . 



L. montana weaves a horizontal snare in hedges, and generally remains in. an 

 inverted position on the web, even when moving swiftly. L. crypticoleus 

 is found in cellars and dark places, and carries her cocoon fastened to her 

 spinneret. 



Genus ii. Neriene. Position of eyes Q o otf 



Genus iii. Walckenaera. Some of these have eyes placed on curious pro- 

 jections. The male of W. acuminata (about | of an inch long) has a high 

 slender horn, on the top of which are two pairs of eyes, and about the middle 



