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ARTICULATA. 
THE DITIXG-SPIDER AXD H'S NESTS SUOWN AEOTE THE WATEE. 
THE ARANEID^.. 
These have the eyes in two rows, one behind the other ; they usually possess six spinnerets 
and only a single pair of pulmonary sacs. All these spiders spin themselves a dwelling-place, 
which is generally connected with a net for the capture of prey. Perhaps the best known of 
these is the Garden-Spider, already described, and whose threads often force themselves upon 
om- attention. 
This s^^ecies forms one of the most beautiful of what are called geometrical ivebs ; many of the 
others form a somewhat similar structure, although without displaying the same wonderful 
regularity. Of these the Malmignatte, Theridion mcdmignatta, nmch dreaded in the south of 
Europe, is an example. Our common House-Spider, which we have just mentioned, belongs to 
this group. Another remarkable member is the Diving-Spidkr, Argyroneta aquatwa, which 
weaves itself a curious little bell-shaped dwelling at the bottom of the water, to which it 
retires to devour its prey. As, notwithstanding its aquatic habits, this animal, like the rest of its 
class, is fitted only for aerial respiration, it takes care to fill its miniature dome with air, which 
it carries down with it from the surface among the hairs 
with which its body is thickly clothed: a process very 
closely resembling that by which the earliest diving-bells 
Avere supplied with air. 
THE ];VCOSIDJ];. 
Unlike the Araneidffi, the animals of this family never 
construct regular webs for the capture of prey, their utmost 
exertion of instinct, in this direction, consisting in laying 
a few threads in the neighborhood of their dwelling-place. 
They generally live imder stones, in holes in the earth, or 
in old walls, sometimes lining their habitations with a 
silky tapestry ; and some, which live upon trees, weave 
themselves a silken nest among the leaves or on the 
branches. They all take their prey by force ; some of 
them running it down by swiftness of foot, while others 
spring suddenly upon their unwary victims. The most celebrated of these spiders is the 
THE TAKANTULA. 
