ORDER PULMONARI^. 427 



They inhabit the edges of the waters, run on their surface 

 with astonishing swiftness, and even enter them a little with- 

 out being wet. The females make, between the branches of 

 plants, a thick irregular web in which they place their cocoon ;• 

 they guard it until the young are disclosed. 



Lycosa, Latr., 



Which again have eyes disposed in a quadrilateral figure, 

 but as long, or longer than broad, and the two posterior ones 

 are not placed on an eminence. The first pair of feet is 

 sensibly longer than the second, but shorter than the fourth, 

 which, in this respect, exceeds all the others; the jaws are 

 truncated obliquely at their internal extremity ; the tongue is 

 square, but longer than broad. 



Almost all the lycosse remain upon the ground, where they 

 run very fast ; they lodge in holes which they find formed, or 

 which they have excavated, strengthening the walls with silk, 

 and they enlarge them in proportion as they grow. Some 

 establish themselves in the cavities or clefts of walls, forming 

 those tubes of silk, which they cover at the exterior with parcels 

 of earth or sand. It is in these retreats that they moult and 

 pass the winter, after having closed, as it would appear, the 

 aperture. It is there also that the females lay their eggs. 

 When they proceed to the chase, they carry their cocoon, 

 which is attached by threads to the anus. Tiie little ones, on 

 issuing from the egg, fasten themselves on the body of the 

 mother, and remain attached there until they are strong 

 enough to seek nutriment for themselves. 



The lycosae are very voracious, and defend courageously 

 the possession of their domicile. 



One species of this genus, the Tarantula, thus named from 

 the town of Tarentum in Italy, in the environs of which it is 

 common, possesses a great celebrity. In the opinion of the peo- 

 ple, its poison produces very grievous accidents, often even 



