SPIDERS. 503 



the spider, and was smeared with the filthy liquor or saliva 

 exuded by the monster. 



The mygale carries its eggs enclosed in a cocoon of white 

 silk of a very close tissue, formed of two round pieces uniting 

 at their borders. It supports this cocoon under its corselet 

 by means of its antennuhe, and transports it along with it- 

 self. When hard-pressed by its enemies, it abandons it for a 

 time, but returns to take it up as soon as the combat is con- 

 cluded. Nearly two thousand eggs are contained in these 

 cocoons. 



The young ones when they appear are entirely white, 

 gradually assuming the colour of the adult. 



The falces, or reaping-hook claws, of the great crab-spider 

 are of enormous size, and are sometimes set in gold and used 

 as toothpicks, from the idea that they possess some medicinal 

 virtue to cure the toothache. 



The different species vary very much in their habits. One 

 big fellow — the Mygale Blondii — forms a broad slanting 

 gallery about two feet in length, the sides of which he lines 

 beautifully with silk. Just before sunset he may be seen 

 keeping watch near the mouth of his tunnel, disappearing 

 suddenly when he hears a heavy foot-tread near his hiding- 

 place. 



Many are of the most showy colours. Some double them- 

 selves up at the base of leaf-stalks, so as to resemble a flower, 

 and thus deceive the insects on which they prey. One 

 of the most extraordinary in appearance — the Arosoma 

 arcuatum — has two curved, bronze-coloured spines, an inch 

 and a half in length, proceeding from its abdomen. It spins 

 a large web, those huge spikes apparently being no impedi- 

 ment to its work. 



