198 AUACIINIDES. 



in chinks and cavities in walls, where they form a silken tube co- 

 vered externally with particles of earth or sand. In these retreats 

 they change their tegument, and, as it appears, after closing the 

 opening, pass the winter. There also the females lay their eggs. 

 When they go abroad they carry their cocoon with them, attached 

 to the anus by threads. On issuing from the e^^ the young ones 

 cling to the body of the mother and remain there until they are able 

 to provide for themselves. 



The Lycosae are extremely voracious, and courageously defend 

 their dwelling. 



A species of this genus, the Tarentula, so called from Taren- 

 tum, a city of Italy, in the environs of which it is common, is 

 highly celebrated. The poisonous nature of its bite is thought 

 to produce the most serious consequences, being frequently fol- 

 lowed by death or Tarentism^ results which can only be avoided 

 by the aid of music and dajicing. Well informed persons, how- 

 ever, think it more necessary in these cases to combat the ter- 

 rors of the imagination than to apply an antidote to the poison; 

 medicine at all events presents other means of cure. 



Several curious observations on the Lycosa tarentula of the 

 south of France have been published by M. Chabrier, Acad, de 

 Lille, fascic. IV. 

 This genus is very rich in species, which have not as yet, how- 

 ever, been well characterized. 



Lye. tarentula; Aranea tarentula, L., Fab.; Albin, Aran., tab. 

 xxxix; Senguerd. de Tarent. An inch long; under part of the 

 abdomen red, crossed in the middle by a black band. 



The Tarentula of the south of France — Lycose narbonnaise, 

 Walck., Faun. Franc., Aran., I, 1 — 4, is not quite so large; the 

 under part of its abdomen is very black and edged all round with 

 red. 



A similar species is found in the environs of Paris, the Lytose 

 ouvriere, or L. fabrilis, Clerck, Aran. Suec, pi. 4, tab. ii; 

 Walck., Faun. Frang., Aran., II, 5. 



Lye. saccata; Aranea saceata^ L.; Jiraneus atnentatus, Clerck, 

 IV, tab. viii; Lister, tit. 25, f. 25. Small; blackish; carina of 

 the thorax, obscure reddish, with a cinereous line; a little 

 bundle of grey hairs at the superior base of the abdomen; legs 

 of a livid red, varied with blackish spots; the cocoon flat and 

 greenish — very common about Paris(l). 



(1) For the other species see the Tabl. and Hist, des Aran, of Walckenaer, and 

 the Faune Frangaise, Aran., Id. See also the second edition of the Nouv. Diet. 

 d'Hist. Nat., article Lycose. 



