«b4 ARACIIiN'iDA. 



niucli sliorter tban the thorax, and covered half way from the base by a solid epidermis. 71/. fuJva, Brazil. There 

 also appear to be other species in Georgia, in North Au^erica. 



[Mi/nnarachne, jMacLeay, appears only to be a geojjraphical section of Myrniecia, having; the iiead portion of the 

 ct'phalotliorax more elongated, whereby the posterior eyes are removed wider apart. M. atra of Perty, is precisely 

 of the same form as M//rmarac/ine -mclnnocephala. It is likely to lead to erroneous impressions to assort that 

 thiL'se Spiders prove that the order may include species ^vith additional articulations, as they are only cnn.stricted 

 in several places, and not articulated.] 



The second section of tlio \VainIcrinj S[iiders, that of Salttgradhs, lias the eyi"'s arranged in a large 

 square, the front row extending the wliole breadtli of the thorax, which is nearly square, or semi-oval, 

 Hat, nr but slightly gibbose above, as broad in front as in any other part, and sudfbjuly dcflexed at the 

 si;les. The legs are fitted for running and leaping; the fore-thighs are often greatly dilated. 



One of these insects is very common in sninnier {Aranea scenica, Linn.) upon walls and windows 

 exposed to the sun, talvcs short leaps, stopping suddenly after a few steps, and raising itself on its legs, 

 "^'hen it discerns a fly, or especially a gnat, it approaches it cautiously till within leaping distance, 

 when it darts upou it, not icaring to tal^e a peri)riidjcular lca|i, beca:ise it al\\a\'s at tlie same time 

 suspends itself Ijy a thread, whicli it wiiuls off as it advances. It also serves to susi)end it in the air, 

 and to mount up acjiaiu to the spot whence it leaped, or to sustain it whilst tlie wind carries it from 

 place to j)lace. Such are the general habits of tliis section. Many species construct, amongst tlie 

 leaves, under stones, &c., silken nests, in the form of oval sacs, open at each end, into which they 

 retire in order to take rest, to moult, and to take refuge against the inclemency of the weatlier. If 

 menaced with danger they quit their retreats, and run off with great agility. Some species construct, 

 ■with tlic same material, a kind of tent, w hicli scrvrs for Uie liiith-place of their posterity, and in which 

 the \ouug reside for some ti)ui' with tlu'ir parent. Utlicr species, resembling Ants, elevate their fore- 

 legs and vibrate them with great raiiidity. Tlie males sometimes engage in contests, in which thei'' 

 m.anccuvres are very singular, but which do not terminate fatally. 



Ti/.\siirop.s\ Ratiucsquc, nearly ajiproaches the next, but ditfers, if there be not some error, in the number of its 

 eyes, which is only four. (See Annal. Gen. .Vcv'. P/>i/-\i'j., tnui. viij,) 



/^<///>;;/irtH»i', Dufour (in ditto, torn. v.). appears also intermediate between Eresus and Salticns, the eyes being 

 arranged as in the former ; the tongue is also triangular and pointed, and the maxillrc are dilated and rounded at 

 the tip, but they are inclined ; the terminal joint of the antLTiiir rnrsi is inserted laterally, and wants the ungues. 

 P. (7i";i«*, Dufour, does not leap, but only creeps slowly. It is I'nuud under stones in Valencia. I\i. Lcfebvrc 

 brought a new Spider from Sicily, which appears to belong to this genus. 



In the two following genera there are always eight eyes, and the niaxilhT? are straight. 



EresuHf AYalck., has four of the eyes arranged in a small square in front of the thurax, and the other four form- 

 ing a much larger square at its sides; the tongue is triangular, and the tarsi terminated by tliree ungues. 

 E. cinnaher/iius, Walck., Araiica \-guttata, Rossi, &c. 



Sidliciis, Latr., Aitus, AValckenaer, has fourof the eyes in across line in front of the thorax, the two middle ones 

 being the largest, and the two others at the sides of the thorax, thus forming a large square open behind; the 

 tongne is very obtuse at the tip, and the tarsi have oidy t\io terminal ungues. The males of many species are 

 furnished with very large cheliccra:. Some species have the thorax thick, sloping, and very much inclined at tlie 

 base, Aranrn sain^ninolcr/ta, Liim., South of France, and many other species. 



The others have the thorax flattened and roof-bke at the base, the body being rather oval, and clothed with thick 

 pube^rence, with the legs robust, as in ,'];vf;;ea acniira, Linn,, or narrow, elongated, subcylindrical, and naked, 

 with the legs long and slender, as Ara/iC(r fun/iirariii, DetJcer. 



[oince the second edition of this v, ork many additional genera of Spiders have been published by Mr. 

 Ulackwall, in the London and Edinhurgh Philosophical Magaziae. from time to time, as well as by 

 Jil. WalkciKici-, in t)ie work above referred to. The genera Cherses, Arkys, Erigona, and Plectanus. 

 e^iablishcd Ijy the latter, are extremely singular iu their forms. The former of these authors has 

 devoted ranch attention to the economy and structural peenliarities of many species of Spiders, his 

 researclu^s being published 'n\ Wvt Transactions of the Lhnicean Sock-///. M. Ilahu also commenced 

 the }fuhlication of an elegant little work. Dii- Jfac/miJe/i, since his death coiiliiiui'd by j\I. Koch, in 

 which a vast numlicr of Spiders are dcsciibed and liLi.ureil. ]\[. Perty also described and lignrcd many 

 Brazilian species in his Dr/rc/ns of /he .Irticulalcd Jn'nnah of Brazil. A great number of Enrnpean 

 species are also rigurcd by Jlerriek Schidfer, in his continuation of Panzer's woik upon Germau 

 insects. AL Lucas, who is attached to the cntnnnilnglral dejiartin'/nt of the Jnrdiu dcs Phnilrs, has 

 made these insects his particular study, and has communicated some interesting species to Gnorin's 

 Mo'jasln de Zoologie and the Annales de la Sociele Entomologique de France. 



