JS70 SPIDERS OF GUERXSEY. 



a remarkable (Ussiiiiilarity in their sha])e, colour and mark- 

 ings, 8() that the sexes present all the up[)ea ranee of totally 

 distinct species. Male si)iders h()W(;ver nnay always be 

 distinguished from females by the great development of the 

 palpi, which in the latter sex merely resemble small legs 

 ending in a claw, whilst in the males the terminal joint of 

 each palpus is very much enlarged, and presents a curiously 

 complicated structure, the full development of which marks the 

 perfect maturity of the spider. The apparently infinite 

 variety exhibited in the structure of these palpal organs is 

 most remarkable, for no two males of different species are 

 ever exactly alike in this respect ; and consequently the palpi 

 afford a most useful and unfailing character for the discrimi- 

 nation of closely allied forms. 



The eyes of spiders are abvays simi)le (as distinguished 

 from the compound eyes of insects proper), immovable and 

 either six or eight in number in all British species. As a 

 general rule they are arranged in two transverse rows on the 

 fore part of the cephalothorax, being occasionally moimted on 

 tubercles and prominences, so that they can command the 

 view in all directions at once. The arrangement of the eyes 

 is exceedingly varied, and their I'elative size and position 

 furnish an important character in the separation of genera. 

 In certain families, notably the Salticida^, the eyes are 

 unusually large and brilliant, sjjarkling and flashing in 

 particular lights like jewels. 



The very largest spiders found in these latitudes are 

 of quite modest dimensions when compared with the formidable 

 hairy giants which inhabit some parts of the tropics. In 

 South America one species measures as much as three inches 

 in the length of the body, and has an expanse of ten 

 inches from tip to tip of the outstretched legs. On the other 

 hand some of the British spiders are among the smallest species 

 known, full-groAvn sjjecimens measuring less than the twenty,- 

 fifth of an inch in length. 



The arachnologist possesses one advantage over the 

 collector of insects in being able to carry on his search 

 for specimens all the year roimd, even in the depth of 

 Avinter ; for whenever the weather permits of outdoor work 

 spiders may be found in considerable number and variety. 

 With respect to the kind of places to hunt for them, it may 

 be said in a general way that spiders occur wherever insect 

 life of any sort is to be found. In winter and spring tufts of 

 moss, grass roots, dead leaves, and debris of all kinds will 

 yield many species ; and it is scarcely necessary to remind the 



