CHAP. VII.] 



CEYLON INSECTS. 



295 



over by the wind or its own weight, and wrapped round 

 the nucleus in the centre, the spider replacing it by a 

 fresh sheet, to be in turn detached and added to the 

 mass within. 



Walckenaer has described a spider of large size, under 

 the name of Olios Taprobanius, which is very common 

 and conspicuous from the fiery hue of the under surface, 

 the remainder being covered with gray hair so short 

 and fine that 4i*e body seems almost denuded. It spins 

 a moderate-sized web, hung vertically between two sets 

 of strong lines, stretched one above the other athwart 

 the pathways. Some of the cords thus carried hori- 

 zontally from tree to tree at a considerable height from 

 the ground are so strong as to cause a painful check 

 across the face when moving quickly against them ; and 

 more than once in riding I have had my hat lifted off my 

 head by a single line. 1 



Separated by marked peculiarities of structure, as well 

 as of instinct, from the spiders which live in the open 

 air, and busy themselves in providing food during the 

 day, the My gale fasciata is not only sluggish in its habits, 

 but disgusting in its form and dimensions. Its colour is a 

 gloomy brown, interrupted by irregular blotches and faint 

 bands (whence its trivial name) ; it is sparingly sprinkled 

 with hairs, and its limbs, when expanded, stretch over 

 an area of six to eight inches in diameter. It is familiar 

 to Europeans in Ceylon, who have given it the name, 

 and ascribed to it the fabulous propensities, of the 

 Tarentula. 2 



1 Over the country generally are 

 scattered species of Gasteracantha, 

 remarkable for their firm shell-co- 

 vered bodies, with projecting knobs 

 arranged in pairs. In habit these 

 anomalous-looking Epeiridse appear 

 to differ in no respect from the 

 rest of the family, waylaying their 

 prey in similar situations and in the 

 same manner. 



Another very singular subgenus, 



met with in Ceylon, is distinguished 

 by the abdomen being dilated behind, 

 and armed with two long spines, arch- 

 ing obliquely backwards. These ab- 

 normal kinds are not so handsomely 

 coloured as the smaller species of 

 typical form. 



* Species of the true 1arentul<c are 

 not uncommon in Ceylon ; they are 

 all of very small size, and perfectly 

 harmless. 



u 4 



