Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/516

* SPIDER. 444: SPIEGEL. The eggs are deposited (10 to 2000 in number) within silken cases or cocoons made by the mother spider for this purpose. The young spider on hatching is in general appearance much like the parent, but with larger hairs, and less distinctly marked. As the young spider grows, it is obliged to molt the skin. The number of molts varies from six to nine. The spider's silk is not used solely in the construction of webs, but serves a variety of purposes. With many spiders the web is a loose, irregular maze of crossed threads, which are the true "cobwebs.' In other eases it is a flat sheet of threads with a tubular retreat at one corner. The geometric or orb webs consist of a varying number of ra- diating lines, crossed by many parallel or spiral threads. The whole is supported by sev- eral guy-lines or stouter threads. At one corner or in the near vicinity is a silken nest or retreat, where the spider remains concealed during the day or when not using the web. This retreat is connected by a line to the centre of the web. 'hen waiting for prey the spider rests upon the centre of the web, head downward and legs ex- tended. See Orb-Weavek. The male spider is usually smaller than the female, with longer legs, and often is more highly colored; sometimes lie has additional spines on the legs, or spurs on the coxte. In many of the minute species the male has the front of the cephalothorax greatly swollen and elevated, often molded into grotesque shapes. The courtship of spiders is frequently attended with grave peril to the male. The female, if not in the suitable temper, may attack and devour her devoted ad- mirer. In some cases, however, the male is larger than his mate. As a rule spiders can see clearly only for a few inches. They have an acute sense of hear- ing, as well as of touch. A number of spiders are so shaped or colored as to deceptively re- semble ants, an appearance heightened by their erratic movements. Others resemble the sur- faces upon which they visually occur, as the bark of trees, dead leaves or twigs, and the petals of flowers. A few are able to produce sounds ; some by rubbing the base of the abdomen over the base of the cephalothorax, others by rubbing the palpi against the sides of the mandibles. A considerable number, known as trap-door spiders, dig holes in the ground, line them with silk, and cover the entrance by a close-fitting door, the upper surface of which is made to resemble its surrounding. Some species make similar nests in trees. A few spiders ara social and produce webs in common, or closely connected to each other. Some of the large spiders are very power- ful and can kill small birds, rats, fish, and other animals. All spiders have poison-glands and use them in capturing pVey, but with most spiders the mandibles are so small and weak as to be incapable of piercing the human skin, and if they did so the small amount of poison in- jected could have no deleterious effect. With the large tarantulas it is different, although cases of death from their bites are few and doubtful. There is one group of spiders, however (genus Latrodectus), which appear to merit the name of 'poisonous spiders.' The New Zealand species, locally known as 'katipo' (q.v.), certainly ap- pears to be dangerous. A species of Latrodectus occurs in the Southern United States, where it is called 'malmignatte,' but its bite (as far as known) has not proved fatal. The classification of spiders, formerly quite simple and based on their habits and webs, has undergone a complete revolution. Thirtj'-five or forty families are now known ; several, however, contain but few species. The more prominent families may be grouped in two classes for con- venience. Of the non-web-building kinds are the Theraphosidae, or tarantulas, and trap-door spiders. The}' have vertically moving fangs, four lung-slits, and are of large size. The Dysderidaj possess but six eyes and live in dark places. The Drassid* are flat, with prominent spin- nerets, and live on the grovmd or under stones. The Clubionidiie are convex and occur on bushes or among dead leaves. The Sparassidoe are very flat and broad and are abundant in the tropics. The Thomisidse, or crab-spiders, are flat, broad, can walk sidewise, and catch prey by the fore legs. The Lyeosidse, or wolf-spiders, have the eyes in three rows, those of the lowest very small ; they wander in woods and fields. The Attidie, or jumping spiders, have eyes in three rows, those of the lowest row the largest ; they jump, and stalk their prey. Among web-building forms are the Agalenidse, which make flat sheets of wel) with a tubular retreat at one side; the Dictynid:e. which possess a cribellum, and make irregular webs, with curled threads ; the Theridiidie, which make the familiar cobweb; and the Epeirids, which make geometric or orb webs. Consult: Emerton. The Common Hpidcrs of the United States (Boston, 1902); McCook, Ameri- can Spiders and Their Spinning Work (Phila- delphia. 1889) ; Cambridge, The Spiders of Dor- set (Sherbourne, 1879-81). SPIDER-CRAB. Any crab in which the legs are of unusual length in comparison with the body. The famous giant crab of Japan (ilacro- chira Kenipfcri) is the largest known spider- crab, and has legs from four to six feet in length. On the eastern coast of the United States tlic name is usually given to species of Libinia, es- pecially Lihinia canaliculata, which is very com- mon on muddy shores or flats. SPIDER-MONKEY, or Coatta. Any Amer- ican monkey of the genus Ateles. characterized by slenderness and agility (see MoxKEY). They frequent in small bands the tallest forest trees, moving swiftly by astonishing leaps, sprawling out like spideis, and catching by their perfectly prehensile tails. Most are black or nearly so, with the face shaded by projecting luiir. which is either light or dark in color. They are mild, intelligent, and make interesting pets. Ten species occur between Southern Brazil and Cen- tral ^lexico. of which the Amazonian red-faced (see Plate of Monkeys) and the Mexican one are l>est known. Their food is mainly fruits and insects, and their flesh is eaten. SPIEGEL, spe'gel, Feiedkich von (1820—). A German Orientalist, one of the pioneers in the field of Iranian philologj'. He was born in Kitz- ingen, studied at Erlangen, Leipzig, and Bonn, then spent five years in the libraries of Copen- hagen, Paris. London, and Oxford, and from 1S49 to 1890 was professor of Oriental languages in the University of Erlangen. His early studies on Pali and the publication of the Kammavaki/a