2CXXV111. INTRODUCTION. 



Mode of Capture, and Preservation. 



Our Introductory Chapter on Spiders would scarcely be com- 

 plete without a few words on this subject. 



The study of spiders is, peculiarly suited to persons of 

 a sedentary habit, or to those who may love natural history pur- 

 suits, but do not desire to form a collection. In this respect the 

 observing of spidors possesses an advantage over the observation 

 of the insect tribes in general, inasmuch as spiders are more 

 stationary, and when found out in their hole, corner, or web, do 

 not escape observation by flight ; but require only patience in 

 the observer to unfold much of their history and economy. The 

 Collector often debars himself from the discovery of many a fact 

 in the habits and life of the object of his search, by anxiety to 

 add to his collection, and fear lest the specimen should escape. 

 Still there are many points that can only be ascertained by a 

 close study and examination of the object itself ; and, especially 

 in regard to spiders, tho scrutiny of those often minute, but 

 important, structural and other characters upon which the deter- 

 mination of their species and systematic position depend is 

 imperative, and hence it is absolutely necessary both to capture, 

 and to preserve specimens. 



Probably the difficulty of making pretty cabinet objects of 

 spiders has, in some measure, hindered their being studied and 

 collected as commonly as the insect orders. But, premising here 

 that this difficulty can be, in a great degree, overcome, it will 

 be well to say a word first about their capture (on the well- 

 known principle of " First catch your hare.") 



First then it ought to be an axiom with the spider-collector 

 never to handle a spider with the fingers if it can possibly be 

 avoided ; because they can scarcely bo handled without great 

 danger of breaking off the legs, or destroying the hairs, bristles f 

 and spines with which most of thorn are more or less furnished. 

 To break off these is to deprive oneself of one of the best 

 characters for the determination of the spider ; not to mention 



