28 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



claw of the mandibles works up and down instead of side- 

 wise. 



The members of this family do not construct true webs, 

 but they dig long tubes in the earth, which they line with 

 silk, or line their hiding-places in clefts in trees or elsewhere 

 with a layer of silk. They live only in warm countries. 



One of the best known of the Tarantulas is Eurypelma 

 hentzii (Eu-ryp'el-ma hentz'i-i). This species occurs in the 

 South and in the Middle West, and is the largest of our 

 spiders (Fig. 26). Several closely allied species are found in 

 California. 



Fig. 26. — A Tarantula, Eurypelma hentzii. 



But the members of this family that have attracted most 

 admiration on account of their habits are the Trap-door 

 Spiders. These dig a tube in the ground, as do many other 

 members of this family ; but this tube is lined with a denser 



Fig. 27. — Entrance to nest of a trap-door spider. 



layer of silk, and is provided with a hinged lid, which fits 

 the opening of the tube with wonderful accuracy (Fig. 27). 



