PTJL^IONAHIA. 4C3 



thm named in opposition to tlie former .Uvi^ion (jf tlic Sedentary species), liiivc the eyes, always eight 

 iniiLnuber, extended lengthways along tlie thorax rather than transversely, or at h'ast tlic spaee they 

 occupy is as long as hroad, and which form, by tlieir union, eillier a curvilinear triangle, or a triinratcd 

 oval, or a square. Two or four of their eyes arc often much larger than the others ; the tjjorax is 

 hroad, and the fuet are rohu^t, tliuse of tlic fourth pair, the two first, or those of the second pair 

 generally, exceed the others in length. These Spiders do not spin wehs, wait for their prey, seize it 

 running or leap upon it. We divide these into two sections, the Citigrades and the Saltigradcs. 



The first, that of the Citigrades, comprises the species which are called Wolf-spiders by some 

 v.riters. The eyes form, by their arrangement, either a curvilinear or oval triangle, or a square, the 

 front side of which is much narrower than the breadth of the thorax ; this part of the body is ovoid, 

 narrow-ed in front, and with a central longitudinal ridge; the legs are only fitted for runniii'^'- ; the 

 inaxillce are always straight and rounded at the tip ; the females of most of the species sit upon their 

 eoeoon or carry il about with them, applied against the breast and the base of the behv, or suspended 

 at tlie anus. They do not abandon it except in the utmost extremity, and return to hunt for it when 

 they have no longer cause of alarm. They also lend their young with care for a certain period of time. 



O.vijopcs, Latr., f<pha!iiis, Walck., have the eyes arriniged in four ti-ansvcrse lines, in pairs, the front and hind 

 oneis beiii^^ shortest, so as to form a kind of uval. The first pair of le^^s is longest. S. hcU-n.ijjduilmns, Walck. ; 

 O. rafiegalus, Latr., &c. 



Cfcnus, Walck., has tlie eyes arranged in three transverse lines, gradually becoming broader (2, 4, 2,) and forming 

 a kind of reversed curvilinear triangle, truncated at the front, or its narrowest part. The tongue is square ; the 

 fourth and then the first pair of legs are the longest. Established on a Spidei", of large size, found at Cayenne. 



Volomedes, Latr., has the eyes aj-ranged in three transverse lines (4, 2, 2), forming a square, rather broader than 

 long, with the two posterior placed on an ennnence ; and which have the second pair of legs as long or longer than 

 the first pair; those of the fourth pair are longest. The tongue is square. 



Some species have the two lateral eyes of the front line longer than the two middle ones placed bet\^■een them, 

 and the abdomen terminated in a point. The females construct, on the top of trees full of leaves, a silken nest, like 

 a funnel oi" bell, where they lay their eggs, but when they go out to hunt or are forced to abandon their retreat, 

 they always carry their cocoon with them, attaching it to their breasts. Clerck says that he saw them leap upon 

 files which were tlying aroand them. Ar. mirabdis, Clerck ; A. mfo-fasciafa, Fab. is:c. 



The other species have the four front eyes of equal size, and the abdomen uval and rounded at the tip. They 

 inhabit the sides of water, running on its surface with surprising quickness, and even entering into it without 

 being wetted. The females make, amongst the branches of vegetables, large irregular webs, in whicfi they place 

 their cocoon, which they guard until the young are hatched. DoL marginntus, Walck. ; A. fimbriatus, Clerck, &c. 



XvcfWff, Latr., which have the eyes arranged in a square, as long as or longer than it is broad, with the two 

 posterior not placed upon an eminence. The first pair of leg's is evidently longer than the second, but shorter 

 than the fourth, which is the longest. The maxillffi are obliquely truncate ; the tongue is square, but longer than 

 broad. 



All these Spiders usually live on the ground, where they lam with great swiftness. They dwell in holes, which 

 they have foand or formed, lining its inside with silk, and increasing its size as they grow. Some take up their 

 abode in holes of walls, where they make silken tubes, the outside of which they cover with earth or sand, und in 

 which they moult and hybernate, having first closed the enti'ance. The females also therein lay their eggs ; tliey 

 carry their egg-case with them when they go out to hunt, and which is attached by threads to the anus. 'Ihe 

 young ones fasten themselves, as soon as they are hatched, upon the body of their parent, and there remain 

 attached until they are sufiiciently strong to seek their own food. They arc very voracious, and defend the pobitioii 

 of their habitation with great courage. 



A species of this genus, the Tareiitula, so named from the city of Tarentura, in Italy, in the environs of which it 

 is common, is very celebrated. In the opinion of the vulgar its venom occasions dangerous wounds, often 

 followed by death, or by the complaint termed tarentism, which could only be cured by the aid of music and 

 dancing. Judicious people think it more requisite to combat the terrors of the imagination than the effects of 

 the venom, for which the medicinal art supplies various remedies. IM. Chabrier has published some observations 

 upon the Tarentula of the Suuth of France {^oc. Acad. Ld(e, 4 CaMcr). The genus is numerous in species, which 

 have not yet been clearly defined. 



L. iarentiila (Aranea tarentula, Linn.,) is about a foot long, with the under side of the abdomen red, with a 

 transverse central black bar.* The Tarentula of the South of Trance (L. narbonnaise, AValck.) is rather smaller, 

 with the belly black, with a red margin. L. febrUls, Clerck, an analogous species, occurs near Paris; L. saccata 

 is much smaller, and is veiy common near Paris [and London]. 



Mi/rmccia, Latr., in Ann. ScL Nat., torn. iii. p. 27 [as the generic name imphes, greatly resembles an Ant]. The 

 legs are long, nearly filiform, the fourth and the first paii-s being the longest ; the thorax appears as if divided 

 into three parts, the anterior of which is much larger than the other two, which are knotted. The abdomen is 



* r>^<.v,iil species liuve been confounded under tliis niiiiie. I^I. (1,'s Srirjiccs N'ltiirfllcs, 183.5, translated In the i'Itij;iizine of Nuiiiral 

 L)ufour has [nibllslicd an elnbor^te fici:uuiit of Uic liabits ol one of //isfor^, vul. i., new series. 1 

 tlicse wliieli he reifards rib tlie real iU. '/""J-tv/f//^', in the Aimalrs 



