. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. is: ARACHNIDA—ARANEAE CHAP. complexity in tlie nature of the silk used. It is interesting, however, to find that viscid globules, not unlike those which stud the " spiral line " of the Epeiridae, are sometimes present in the snares of the Line-weavers/ and in these, too, aggregate glands are present. There is a large spider of this family, Theridion tepid- ariorum, which may be found to a certainty in almost any hot- house in this country. In its snare, which is of the ordinary irregular type, F. Pickard-Cambridge has observed little patches
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. is: ARACHNIDA—ARANEAE CHAP. complexity in tlie nature of the silk used. It is interesting, however, to find that viscid globules, not unlike those which stud the " spiral line " of the Epeiridae, are sometimes present in the snares of the Line-weavers/ and in these, too, aggregate glands are present. There is a large spider of this family, Theridion tepid- ariorum, which may be found to a certainty in almost any hot- house in this country. In its snare, which is of the ordinary irregular type, F. Pickard-Cambridge has observed little patches of flocculent silk, calculated to render more certain the entangle- ment of prey, and he has further described a curious comb-like structure on the 'hind leg of the animal which is probably used in the production of this phenomenon. It is by no means unlikely that a more careful study of these apparently simple snares will lead to the discovery of further complexity of structure. Ulohorus, a cribellate genus which has an Epeirid-like, orbicular snare, decorates some of the lines with the produce of the cribellate glands, but viscid globules are absent. Sheet-Webs.—The webs which are such familiar—and, by asso- ciation, unpleasant — objects in unused rooms Fio. 193.—Snare of Ulohnrus sp., some of tlie lines and OUthouSCS are Usu- ally the work of spiders belonging to the Agelen- idae and the Dictynidae. To the first belongs the common House-spider, Tegenaria civilis, and its larger congener, T. parietina. These spiders are not attractive in appearance, and the last-named species especially, with the four-inch span of its outstretched legs, is a formidable object, and a terror to domestic servants. An obscure tradition connecting it with Cardinal Wolsey and Hampton Court has caused it to be known as the Cardinal Spider. An out-door example of the Agelenidae is the very abundant Agelena lahyrinthica, whose sheet-web, with its tubular retreat, is to lie sought on the bank
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1895
