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Show 196 AH.ACIINIDJ!.S. along the length of the thorax, than across its breadth, or at least almost as much in one direction as the other, and which form either a truncated curvilinear triangle or oval, or a quadrilateral, constitute a second general division, or the VAGADUNDlE, which I have thus named to distinguish them from those of the first, or the Sedentariil!. Two or four of their eyes nre frequently much larger than the others; the thorax is large, and the legs robust; those of the fourth pair and then the two first, or those of the second pair, are usually the longest. They make no web, but watch for their· pr·ey and seize it, either by hunting it down, Ol' by suddenly leaping upon it. We divide them into t.wo sections. The first, that of the CITIGRADlE, is composed of the ARAIGNEES· Loups of authors. The eyes form either a curvilinear triangle, an oval, or a quadrilateral, of which, however, the anterior side is much narrower than the widest part of the thorax. This part of the body is ovoid, narr·owed before, and cal'inated along the middle of its length. The legs are usually only fit for running. The jaws are always stJ·aight, and rounded at the end. Most of the females remain on their cocoon, or carry it with them at the base of the abdomen, or suspended to the anus. Nothing but the most extreme necessity will induce them to abandon it, and when the danger is over, they always return in search of it. They also take care of their young for a certain pel'iod after they are hatched. OxYOPEs, Lat.-Sphasus, Walck. The eyes arranged two by two, on four transverse lines, the two extreme ones the shortest; they describe a sort of oval, truncated at each end. The ligula is elongated, nanowest at base, dilated and rounded towards the end. The fir·st pair of legs is the longest; the fourth and second ar·e nearly equal; the third is the shortest(!). CTENus, 'Valek. The eyes arranged in three transverse lines, which become gra· dually longer-2, 4, 2-and form a sort of cur·vilinear, reversed tri· angle, with a truncated apex. The ligula is square, and almost iso· metrical; the fourth pair of legs, and then the first, are the longest; the third is the shortest. (1) Spluuualteterophthalmus, Walck., Wst. des Aran. fasc. III, tab. viii, female; Oxyope3 varicgatua, Lat.; Splwsua italicus, Walck., lb., Fuse. IV, tab. viii, female; Oxyope3lineatm, Lat., Gener. Crust. et Insect., I, v, 5, female. See article Oxyope, in the entomological part of the Encyclop. Method., the Tab. des Aran., Walck., and the Fa.une 1-"r:mvaise. PULMON ARliE. 197 This genus was established on a la1·ge species found at Cayenne. Others have since been discovered in the same island and in Brazil, but none of them have been described. DoLOMEDEs, Lat. The eyes, arranged in three transverse lines, 4, 2, 2, form a quadrilateral, somewhat wider than long; the two posterior ones are laced on an elevation. The second pair of legs is 'as long as or fonger than the first; those of the fourth are still longer. The ligula is square and as broad as it is high, like that of a Ctenus. In some, the two lateral eyes of the anterior line are larger than the two intermediate ones; their abdomen is an oblong oval terminating in a point. The females construct an infundibuliform, silky nest on the tops of trees covered with leaves, or on bushes; there they lay their eggs, and when they go abroad to hunt or are forced to abandon their retreat, they always bear off their cocoon which is attached to the base of the abdomen. Clerck says he has seen them spring upon flies which were buzzing around them( I). They inhabit the borders of streams, run over their surface with the most surprizing rapidity, and can even partly enter the water without becoming wet. The females weave a coarse irregulat· web, between the branches of plants, in which they place their cocoon. They watch it till the ova are hatched(2). LYoosA, Lat. The eyes of the Lycosre also form a quadrilateral, but one as long or longer than it is wide; the two posterior eyes are not placed on an elevation. The first pair of legs is evidently longer than the second, but shorter than the fourth, which, in this respect, surpasses all the others. The internal extremity of the jaws is obliquely truncated. The ligula is square but longer than it is broad. Almost all the Lycosre keep on the ground, where they run wilh great swiftness. They inhabit holes accidentally presented to them, or which they excavate, lining their parietes with silk, and enlarging them in proportion to their growth. Some establish their domicil (1) .Braneua mirabilia, Clerck, Aran. Suec., pl. v, tab. 10; .!J.ran. rufofasciata, De Geer; .Br. obacura, Fa.b. See the Faune Fran~aise-Dolomedea aylvaina-and the Ann. des Sc. Phys.-Dolomede apinimane, Dufour, V, lxxvi, 3. (2} DolomedcB marginatua, Walck.; Jlraneus undatua, Clerck, V, tab. l1 De Geer, Insect. VU, xvi, fig. 13, 15; Punz., Faun., LXXI, 22;-Dolomedeajimbriatua, Walck.; De Geer, Insect. VII, xvi, 9-11;-.!J.raneuajimbriatt.U, Clerck, V, tab. ix. These species compose the division of the shore DolomMes of W alckenaer. |
