No. 2.] PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES IN SPIDERS. 113 



icry I know of are two spiders (specific name unknown to me) 

 which bear the closest resemblance to ants. They belong to 

 the Salticidfe and are apparently related to S. formicarius. 

 The one is smooth, black and shining and runs rapidly on the 

 ground and bark of trees, and resembles the ant which builds 

 its nests in Acacia horrida and is used by the Kafirs for the 

 purpose of torture. The other is larger and has its cephalo- 

 thorax dull black and its abdomen covered with short yellow- 

 ish hairs. It is generally found ruiming on the stems of her- 

 baceous plants and small bushes and closely resembles an ant 

 found in similar situations. The fore legs in both species are 

 larger than the second pair and are frequently held up, when 

 they closely resemble the antennse of ants. So exceedingly 

 close is the resemblance that at first sight I have nearly always 

 taken them for the imitated ants."* 



Among spiders, then, as among other artliropods, we find 

 that some groups have reached a condition of close harmony 

 with their environment; this harmony being brought about 

 through the same modifications of color, form and habit as 

 those seen among insects, the common ends of capture of prey 

 and protection from enemies being thus attained. 



■'Nature. 1871, Vol. Ill, p. I 



