6 PREFACE, 
proper, therefore, that the work thus done should be preserved to science 
in connection with the descriptions of the animals’ life history. But the 
author has to admit that this part of his work grew in his 
ee hands far beyond the bounds of his first intent, and finally 
’ shaped itself into the resolve to publish descriptions and plates 
not only of the Orbweavers whose habits he had described, but. of all 
accessible American species of that group. In this matter he has been 
led along step by step, adding species to species, page to page, and plate 
to plate, by a desire to make his work yet more and more complete. 
Working naturalists, at least, will sympathize with and appreciate this fact. 
This descriptive work has made the closing volume in many respects 
the most difficult one of the series. To one who has to deal with small 
; animals, scientific description is always a laborious service. 
Descrip- When it is impossible to mount these animals in any satisfac- 
tive : : : i 
Work. tory way, as is the case with spiders, and one is compelled to 
labor with alcoholic specimens, many of which are minute and 
mutilated, and often with unique examples in hand which may not be 
broken up for convenient study, the ordinary difficulties are much in- 
creased. Nevertheless, the work has not been an unpleasant one; for 
there is a fascination about studies in classification which every true 
naturalist has felt. Dry and uninteresting as the details usually are to the 
general public, to the specialist they have peculiar interest. The comparison 
of species with species and genus with genus; the task of separating on 
this side and on that; of solving the numerous problems that are constantly 
arising, and other duties of a like kind, bring into play some of the most 
pleasing faculties of the intellect, and contribute largely to the enjoyment 
of the systematic naturalist. Nevertheless, to one who can only labor at 
odd hours, and who is thus apt to lose the connection established by long 
and careful comparisons, the pleasure is much marred. This has been the 
author’s estate, and will add to the satisfaction which he will feel should 
it be judged that he has wrought with reasonable accuracy. 
In this connection it is proper to say that the increased cost of printing 
text and plates made it necessary two years ago to notify the public that 
the original price of ten dollars per volume, or thirty dollars 
ae for the entire set, including plates, must be increased to fifty 
dollars the set. All subscribers at the original price will be 
served with Volume III. without additional charge, but others must pay 
the advanced price. The author feels compelled to make this statement 
here in order to relieve himself from the painful duty of refusing requests, 
of which some have already come, to sell the work at the first named price. 
Even at the price now named, subscribers will receive the work at less than 
its actual cost; a statement which is made not in the way of complaint, 
for which there is no reason at all; nor to excite sympathy, which is 
neither required nor desired, but to give a plain and honest reason for a 
