Mygale.- 
CuAB-SPIDEIiS. 
278 
-INSECTS.- 
Species of the genus Mygale were formerly believed 
to spin webs of sufficient strength to entangle small 
birds, upon which they were said to prey ; such is 
certainly not the case, as the species of Mygale do not 
spin webs. We were told, however, by a traveller in 
Brazil, that on one occasion he detected a large Mygale 
sucking the blood of a small unfledged bird that piro- 
bably had fallen out of its nest; or, the creature might 
have carried it off. These insects reside in holes in the 
ground, and belong to the division of hunting spiders; 
they seize upon large species of locusts, cockroaches, 
and other Insects, which they carry off to their dens. 
The species of Mygale in fig. 178 is from Brazil ; the 
figure is about half the natural size. The only species 
of the family of the Mygalidw I'ound in Great Britain, 
is the Atypus Sulzeri, a large and formidable insect, 
which, when full-grown, is two inches in length ; it 
is a stout reddish-brown creature, having rather short, 
thick legs; its falces are strong, prominent, curved 
organs, furnished with teeth on the under side. Alto- 
gether it is the most powerful of our hunting spiders; 
it is a local species, but not uncommon in many of the 
lanes in Kent, particularly in the neighbourhood of 
Dartford and Dover. This insect excavates a tunnel 
in the ground, inside of which it spins a tube of white 
silk; this material also covers a space round the entrance 
to its burrow. This species appears to prey by night, 
for it has not been noticed out of its nest by daylight. 
Spiders are rapacious creatures, and live almost en- 
tirely upon insects; their mode of securing their prey 
differs in manner, as well as in the degree of ingenuity 
displayed in effecting their object. Some species depend 
upon the rapidity with which they run ; others approach 
their victims with caution and circumspection, when cat- 
like, at a sudden spring they seize their prey ; but the 
most ingenious of all modes, and that which has always 
attracted the notice and excited the admiration of man- 
kind, is the spinning of beautiful silken webs, such 
as are spread by the well-known Epeira diadema, the 
garden-s[)ider, and its allies. The surprising manner in 
which these silken nets are suspended in the required 
position, cannot but have been observed by every one; 
then again with what knowledge and foresight does the 
creature strengthen the cables, by which they are kept 
in position on the approach of windy weather; how 
neatly and completely are all necessary repairs effected, 
and what a beautiful provision in nature that such crea- 
tures should spin these webs, catch their prey by these 
means, and thus contribute to a necessary reduction of 
the numbers of many species of insects, performing an 
important part in the economy of nature! 
We have alluded to such species only as pass their 
lives in the earth, in holes in walls, &c., or which prin- 
cipally live on shrubs and trees ; but others run with 
facility on water, occasionally dive into it, and even 
pass much of their time immersed in it. Argyronela 
aquatica, in fact, may be said to be aquatic. It catches 
its prey, constructs its dwelling, and lives entirely 
under water. Other species pass much of their time in 
water, but it appears to be necessary that they should 
occasionally quit that element. 
We must now point out another diversity in the 
habits of spiders, by noticing such as are aeronautic. 
Spiders have no wings, but by throwing out a number 
of gossamer-like filaments, numerous species are enabled 
through their buoyancy to ascend into, and sail through 
the air, to considerable distances. These aerial flights 
are supposed to be taken for the purposes of migration, 
and may be frequently witnessed in autumn, when the 
\veather is remarkably serene. On such occasions these 
minute spiders ascend blades of grass, the tips of twigs, 
&c. ; and, taking thgir position on the tops, they emit 
from their spinnarets a quantity of viscid fluid, which, 
drying instantly, floats about in fine fibres; and, catch- 
ing the rarefied current of air w'hich ascends on such 
occasions, the little animals are borne aloft floating 
about in the air ; and doubtless, on these excursions, 
numerous small insects are entangled in the webs, and 
are preyed upon by the aerial voyagers. 
The species of the genus Phalangium are the well- 
known Harvestmen that abound in the autumn, and qt 
that time may be observed running on the ground, 
plants, <S:c., in great numbers. They are rapacious, 
their long legs enabling them to run with great rapidity. 
The little Scorpion spiders, so numerous in hedges 
and thick bushes, belong to the genus Chelifer. These 
little creatures are by the unscientific called scorpions, 
to which they bear a close resemblance. They belong, 
however, to the true spiders. Their bodies are oval 
and depressed ; their palpi longer than the body, form- 
ing, as it were, two arms, each terminated by a double 
claw ; their legs are short, and furnished at their extre- 
mities with two claws. These creatures can either run 
in a straight direction, or, crab-like, sideways, at plea- 
a, Acrosomaarcuata; 6,Gasteracantha; c, Salticusforraicariustmale) 
sure. There are four or five known British species, 
and numerous exotic ones from other countries. 
The species composing the genus Gasteracantha are 
