ARANEIDA OK SPIDERS. 117 



about and adhering together, thus forming the white flaky 

 masses. Some spiders may be found on these threads as they 

 are being wafted about — the spider having, as it were, taken 

 advantage of this mode of transit. 



There are two chief divisions of spiders — the first having four 

 spinnerets and four air-saos, the second two air-sacs and six 

 spinnerets. The former are known as Mygalidw, or crab-spiders, 

 such as the large Tarantula, or Bird-spiders, of the tropics. One 

 large species is found in Britain — namely, Atypus Suheri. This 

 carnivorous araneid excavates a subterranean gallery in damp 

 places, in which the female, amongst the lining of white silk the 



~Q) o ^^ Gr «-. — Q^ 



c 



Fk!. 48. — Orb-weavino Spidbe, Etc. 

 A, Eimra diadeinata; b, Drassus BlacJcwallii ; c, thread of Epeira web. 



tube is padded with, deposits her eggs, in a cocoon of pale silk 

 attached to its end. A portion of this tube generally hangs 

 outside the subterranean part, so as to protect it. Trap-door 

 spiders belong here. The second division includes all the other 

 spiders, those with which we are best acquainted, such as the 

 Epeiridm, or Orb-weavers, &c. (fig. 48, a). The Drassidce (b) 

 may often be noticed, — narrow-bodied spiders which live in 

 tubular silken cells, open at each end. These cocoon -like 

 masses we find under the bark of trees, and amongst moss 

 and leaves : from these shelters the spider darts out to hunt 

 its prey. For an account of these and other spiders the reader 



