A raneae . 
101 
webs in the corners of cellars and ont-houses. The spiders of the Table-case 
genus Desis, which occur on the coasts of South Africa, Malay No - 23 - 
Peninsula, Burma, and Australasia, are marine in habit. They 
live in holes and crannies in rocks or coral reefs, or under stones 
between tide-marks. During high tide they remain shut up in their 
waterproof cells of silk, leaving them at low water in search of 
prey. Argyroneta aquatica, the European water- spider, is also a 
member of this family. It is found in pools and ditches of fresh 
water, and is widely distributed in this country. On account of its 
interesting habits it is often kept in aquaria. 
Eam. — Eresidae. 
With the exception of the species belonging to the genus 
Stegodyphus, these spiders are all burrowing forms. In the South 
African genus Seothyra the aperture of the burrow is concealed by 
a curious four-lobed, flexible flap or mat. The species of Stego- 
dyphus live on bushes ; some of them are solitary and construct a 
sheet-like web accompanied by a tubular retreat ; other species 
make a large saccular nest of leaves and web, in which hundreds 
of individuals live together (the nest of a species from Calcutta is 
shown in Wall-case 7). The spiders of this family are confined 
to the old world. A single species ( Eresus cinnaber inus) has 
been found on two or three occasions in the South of England. 
Eam. — Eysderidae. 
The members of this family live under stones, the bark of 
trees, and other retired places. They do not spin a regular web, 
but construct a tubular retreat or cell of silk. Nearly all of them 
are inhabitants of temperate or warmer temperate countries. 
A coloured drawing of a common British species ( Segestria 
senoculata ) is on exhibition in Table-case 23. 
Eam. — Salticidae. 
The Salticidae are exceedingly numerous and are nearly always 
of small size. They are wandering forms and do not spin webs, 
but lie in wait for their prey or stalk it, and then seize it with a 
sudden jump. Many of the tropical forms are beautifully coloured; 
the males are often more vividly coloured than the females, and 
their antics when courting are often of a very curious nature. They 
execute intricate movements and dances before the females, moving 
so as to display to advantage their beauty of form and colouring. 
