SPIDERS comprise the genera Clubiona, Tberidion, Pholeus, and Epeira. But in common language the Mygale are called crab spiders and mason spiders, also trap-door spiders. Scorpion spiders are of the genus Galeodes ; Tarantula spiders belonging to the genus Lycosa of Latreille. L. tarantula, Lair., inhabits Southern Italy, and L. melanogastra Southern France. A spider, remarkable for the bright yellow colour of its web, a species of Epeira, was found by Captain Sherwin 1000 feet high on the summit of Maruk, south of Monghir. Some of the webs, including the guy.ropes, were from 10 to 12 feet in diameter, the reticulated portions being about 5 feet, in the centre of which tbe spider, of a formidable size and very active, sits waiting for prey. In one web was found entangled a bird about the size of a field lark, and eight young spiders feeding on the body. It was near the centre of the web, and its wings bad been com pletely pinioned by the entwined web. The old spider sat about a foot above the bird. It was six inches across the legs, and had a formidable pair of mandibles. Walekenaer described a spider
of large size under the name of Olios Tapro banius, which is very conamon in Ceylon, and conspicuous front the fiery hue of the under surface, the remainder being covered with grey hair so short and fine that the body seems almost denuded. It spins a moderate-sized web, hung vertically between two sets of stronglines stretched one above the other athwart the pathways. Some of the threads thus carried horizontally from tree to tree at a considerable height from the ground, are so strong as to cause a painful check across the face when moving quickly against them, and more than once in riding Sir J. E. Tenuent had his hat lifted off his head by one of theee cords. The webs of spiders are strog enough to entangle and hold the small birds on which they are said occasionally to feed. Small house lizards will also be seized and devoured by these spiders.
—Blyth, Soc. Jour., 1850 ; Gosse ; Tennent's Ceylon, p. 469. Soe Aramat ; Epeira ; Galeodes ; Latrodeetea ; Mygale.