structure of these fabrics. Thus, for example, the dwellings of only eight out of the thirty-six species of trap-door spider stated by Prof. Ausserer[1] to belong to the Mediterranean region are known in books, those of the remaining twenty-eight being, as far as I have been able to learn, yet to be discovered. This is the more strange as from the nocturnal habits of these creatures it is almost always necessary to dig them out of their nests; indeed it is more than probable that if all the dwellings which have been destroyed had been described, the following pages would never have appeared.
Before proceeding to pass briefly in review what has been written on the subject of trap-door spiders, it will be well to take one glance at the relation which these spiders bear to their fellows. The great order of spiders (Araneæ) has recently[2] been divided into seven sub-orders, the fourth of which, Territelariæ, includes all the trap-door spiders, and some others which do not construct trap-doors. This sub-order corresponds with that which was formerly called Mygalidæ, but this name, as well as that of Mygale, originally given to all trap-door spiders, has been abandoned because this latter name had previously been applied to a genus of Mammals, and it was feared that confusion might arise.
The Territelariæ [or underground weavers] are distinguished from all other spiders by the position of
- ↑ Prof. Ausserer (Anton.), Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Arachniden Familie der Territelariæ (Mygalidæ), in Verhandlungen der k.k. Zool. Bot. Gesellschaft in Wien. Jahrg. 1871, Band xxi.
- ↑ Thorell, On European Spiders, in Nova Acta Reg. Soc. Scient. Upsaliensis, ser. iii. vol. vii. fasc. 1 and 2 (1869-70).
