:->' 



SCIEXCE- GOSSIP. 



cate threads. As soon as any insect ventures 

 to walk npon the tube, the spider, apparently 

 receiving some intimation of the fact by vibration 

 of the silken threads, at once rashes to the spot, 

 seizes the victim through the snbstance of the tnbe, 

 and drags it bodily in. The rent thus made is 

 shortly afterwards mended from the inside. It is 

 very interesting to note that when an errant male 

 alights npon the tube he is not seized, although the 

 female has no apparent means of seeing what is 

 going on. He then proceeds to beat with his legs 

 npon the external tnbe, but still the female remains 

 at the bottom. After waiting some time he ap- 

 parently becomes impatient and. tearing np the 



Fie. 5. Section showing Almpus in tube. 



fabric with his powerful falces. he enters the tube" 

 The pair often live together for some months, at 

 the end of which time the observer is surprised to 

 see the remains of the male brought to the surface 

 and pushed through the tube. It is not a case of 

 •• death from natural causes," as careful investiga- 

 tion has proved that the male is devoured bv his 

 loving wife. After this tragedy has terminated, the 

 female retires to the widest part of the tube, and 

 lays about a hundred spherical eggs. The female 

 guards the young spiders, which bear a strong re- 

 semblance to their parents, until they are large and 

 strong enough to leave the tube and start homes of 

 their own. 



15 Clmidezley Place. 

 Islington. X 



AN INTRODUCTION" TO 



BRITISH SPIDERS. 



By Frank Percy Smith. 



{Continued from page 140.) 



GENUS TEXTRIX SUXD. 



This genus may be easily distinguished from its 

 allies by the curve of the hinder row of eyes having 

 its convexity directed forward. The spiders included 

 in the genus are usually found amongst loose stones 

 and rocks, more especially on decaying walls, where 

 they spin a web very similar to that of the genus 



Textrix dentieulata Oliv. (T. lycosina Bl. ) 

 Length. Male 6 mm., female 7.5 mm. 

 The general colour is brown. The legs are of a 

 pale yellow tint, distincdy annulated with dark 

 brown. The abdomen has a broad central band of 

 a bright reddish colour, edged with yellowish and 

 speckled with dark brown. This is a well-distributed 

 though not common spider, and is easily distinguished 



Fig. L a. Palpal organs of Piwlmmma gibbum ; 6. Palpal 

 organs of Steatoda bipwmefata : c. Palpal organs of Ped-a a 

 lieidut : d. Palpal organs of TherMion Jmeatum. 



by the bright colouring of the abdomen. On account 

 of the peculiar position of the eyes it may be at first 

 mistaken for one of the Lycosidae, but the length of 

 the superior spinners is a sure indication of its true 

 systematic position. 



A doubtful species, which may be a young example 

 of T. dentieulata Oliv., has been described by Rev. 

 O. P. Cambridge as Textrix boopis. 



