4o6 



A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



Spiders. — The only curious spiders that I collected which are 

 worthy of note are two remarkable species of the genera Acro- 

 soma and Gasteracantha. In each instance the body is contained 

 in a perfectly hard shell. In the case of the Acrosoma it is 

 triangular and pyramidal, while in the Gasteracantha it is of the 

 form of a crab's carapace. I also took several species of Mygale 

 of various sizes ; the largest about two inches in length of body, 

 seven inches across the legs, the entire body and legs being 

 covered with reddish-brown hair. Mr. Bates * refers to a similar 

 species, and thus describes its bird-slaying habits : " I was 

 * Vol. i. p. i6i. 



