PULMONAEL®. 299 
stout materials that it will arrest small birds, and even impede the 
progress of a man. 
Their cocoon is usually globular ; that of some species, however, 
is a truncated oval, or very short cone. 
The natives of New Holland — Voyage a la recherche de la Pey- 
rouse, p. 239 — and those of some of the South Sea Islands, for want 
of other food, eat a species of Epeira, closely allied to \\\q Aranea 
esuriens. Fab. 
M. Walckenaer, in his Tableau des Aranei'des, mentions sixty-four 
species of Epeirae, remarkable, in general, for the diversity of their 
colours, form and habits. He has arranged them in various small 
and very natural families, the study of which we have endeavoured to 
simplify in the second edition of the Nouv. Diet, d’Hist. Nat., article 
Epe'ire. Certain important considerations, such as those of the 
sexual organs, had been neglected or were not sufficiently attended 
to ; thus, for instance, the female Ep. diadema, and others, present at 
the part which characterizes their sex, a singular appendage, which 
reminds us of the apron of the Hottentot women. These species 
should constitute a separate division. By pursuing this examination 
other not less natural divisions might be established. 
We will content ourselves with mentioning a few of the principal 
species, commencing with those that are indigenous to Europe. 
Ep. diadema ; Aranea eZme/ema, L., Fab. ; Roes., Insect. IV, 
XXXV — xl. Large, reddish, velvety ; abdomen of the females 
extremely voluminous, particularly Avhen about to lay their eggs, 
and of a deep broAvn or yellowish red ; a large rounded tubercle 
on each side of the back near its base, and a triple cross, formed of 
small white spots or dots ; palpi and legs spotted with black. 
Very common in Europe in autumn. The eggs are hatched in 
the spring of the ensuing year. 
Ep. scalaris ; Aranea scalaris. Fab.; Panz., Faun. IV, xxiv. 
Thorax reddish ; top of the abdomen usually white, Avith a black 
spot in the form of a reversed triangle, oblong and dentated, 
weaves its web along the banks of ponds, brooks, &c. 
Ep. cicatricosa ; Aranea cicatricosa, De Geer; A. impressa. 
Fab. The abdomen flattened, and of a greyish bi’OAvn or obscure 
yellowish ; a black band, festooned or edged with grey along the 
middle of the back; eight or ten large impressed points in two 
lines. It constructs its Aveb on walls or other bodies, and 
remains concealed in a nest of white silk, Avhich it forms under 
some projecting object, or in some cavity in the vicinity. It 
only Avorks and feeds during the night, or Avhen the light of day 
is but Aveak. It retires under the bark of old trees or logs. 
Ep. sericea, Walck,, op. cit.. Ill, ii. Covered above Avith a 
silvery and silken doAvn ; abdomen flattened, immaculate and 
Avith festooned margins. South of Europe and Senegal. 
Ep, fu>;ca, Walck., Hist, des Aran. H, i, the female. Very 
common in the cellars of Angers. Its cocoon is Avhite, almost 
globular, fixed by a pedicle, and composed of very fine threads ; 
it is soft to the touch, like avooI. That of the 
Ep. fasciata, Walck,, op. cit. Ill, i, the female, is about an jneh 
