234 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
The Wolf Spider ( Lycosa iniquilina) retains its cocoons attached to its 
spinnerets. Like a wolf, it inhabits a cave which it excavates for itself, and 
thence pounces upon its prey. 
The Mining Spider ( Cteniza fodiens ) bores to the depth of six inches, and 
then constructs its 
dwelling at right angles 
to this tunnel. 
The Cylindrical 
Spider (Gale odes aran- 
oides) is sometimes 
called the waltzing 
spider because its walk 
resembles a Russian 
waltz. 
The Velvet Mite 
Spider (Trombidium 
holosericeum ) is com¬ 
mon in gardens, hot¬ 
houses, or wherever 
plant life is abundant. 
It feeds not upon the 
plants, however, but 
upon the eggs of insects. 
One species of the 
Trombidium is ah effi- 
bird spider. cient ally of man in his 
contest with the grass¬ 
hopper, while another furnishes a valuable dye, which has long been held as 
among the prime and most essential articles of commerce, next, in fact, to the 
cochineal, the coloring matter of which it resembles. 
The Marginated Mite ( Glomeus marginata ) at times looks like a toy 
turbine wheel, on account of the white lines which border the segments of the 
body, and the recurved position in which it holds the tail. 
The Crooked-Legged Crab Spider has a striking resemblance to a crab. 
The Crab Spider proper (Nygate 
avicularid) , also called bird spider , is a 
native of South America, where it grows 
to an extraordinary size, and, though 
not so poisonous as many species, is ex¬ 
tremely formidable for its power to bite 
with serious effects. It is represented 
as occasionally catching birds and young 
chickens, but its more common diet is 
smaller reptiles, such as lizards, slugs, 
etc. In many respects this creature is 
more powerful for evil than the Indian 
scorpion, whose sting is so greatly Indian scorpion. 
dreaded, to which is added an offensive 
habit of hiding in clothing, where it is most likely to give both a sting and surpise. 
