S84 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



either in the centre or at the side, awaiting the entan 

 glement of their victims ; here we have Epeira, Tetru- 

 gnutha, Zosis, &c. : 5. The Naptti'les, which spread 

 wide nets of a web of close texture, suspended among 

 irregular chambers ; this, as far as yet observed, is con- 

 fined to the genus Lini/phia : and, 6. and lastly. The 

 Retiteles, which form webs with open meshes and irre- 

 gular chambers, and which lurk in the centre, or at the 

 sides ; these comprise Argus and Therldion, &c. The 

 aquatic Araneidm consists of the single genus Argyro- 

 iieta, which spreads filaments in the water, w-hich 

 catches for them their food. We have not space to 

 notice further the interesting peculiarities incidental to 

 these insects, and have room only to mention tliat it is 

 in the genus Lycosus, among the Vagahonda, that the 

 celebrated Tarantula occurs, — the effects of the venom 

 of which is reputed to be cured only by the violent 

 exertion of a dance produced involuntarily by the 

 music of a guitar. The name of the insect is derived 

 from the city of Tarentum, in Italy, in the vicinity of 

 •-vhich they occur in profusion. 



(346.) The PhryneidiE, or second division of the 

 pulmonary ArachnidcB, are distinguished from the first, 

 by their anterior legs being not ungulated, and very like 

 antennae, and possibly executing similar functions ; and 

 the maxillary palpi very spinose, and terminating either 

 in hooks or chelie. They consist of two genera — Pltry- 

 nus and Thelyphonus. They are inhabitants of the in- 

 tertropical regions of the Old and New World. The latter 

 is distinguished from the former, by having a long and 

 slender tail, and more robust maxillary palpi. Their 

 habits are not known, but they are much feared in the 

 countries where they occur ; and they are of a malig- 

 nant aspect, and comparatively large. 



(347-) The scorpions form the third division. These 

 are readily distinguished from all the former, by their 

 enlarged maxillary palpi, which here form a prehensile 

 organ, greatly resembling, to use a familiar illustration, 

 the claw of a lobster : they have an elongate annulated 



