i 
16 LYCOSIDiE. 
Family LYCOSID/E. 
Remarkable differences in size occur among the spiders of this family, which are widely 
distributed over the earth’s surface. They have the falces articulated vertically, and are 
provided with three pairs of spinners and two branchial opercula, the tracheal opercula, if 
present, being inconspicuous. The legs taper to the extremity of the tarsi, which are 
terminated by three claws, and are, for the most part, destitute of hair-like papillae; a few 
species have only two claws at the extremity of the tarsi, and a climbing apparatus, in the 
form of a small scopula, is situated immediately below them. 
The Lycosidce pursue or take by surprise the insects that they prey upon among herbage 
and low bushes, and retire for concealment under stones, fragments of rock, fallen leaves, and 
into moss and crevices of the earth; they are strongly attached to their offspring, and the 
females of the species belonging to the genus Lycosa connect the cocoon containing their eggs 
with the spinners by means of short lines of silk; when disengaged from their silken envelope, 
the young attach themselves to the body of their parent, and so accompany her in all her 
movements. 
Several of the semi-aquatic species belonging to the genera Lycosa and Bolomedes run 
fearlessly on the surface of water, and even descend spontaneously beneath it, the time during 
which they can respire when immersed depending upon the supply of air confined by the 
circumambient liquid among the hairs with which they are clothed. 
Genus LYCOSA ( Latreille ). 
Eyes unequal in size; four, much smaller than the rest, form a transverse row in 
front of the cephalo-thorax; the other four, situated in front and on the sides of its anterior 
part, describe a quadrilateral figure, the anterior ones of which are the largest. 
Maxilla nearly straight, enlarged, and rounded at their extremity externally. 
Lip somewhat quadrate, being rather broader at the base than at the extremity. 
Leys robust; the fourth pair is the longest, then the first, and the third pair is the 
shortest. 
