Page:The spiders of the northern states-1901.djvu/16

 THE WOLF OR ROVING SPIDERS.—LYCOS/D.

Our largest Spiders belong to this family. They build no webs to catch their prey, and hunt in the grass, under stones, everywhere for their victims, and murder them by sheer force in true highwayman style. Some, however, weave tubes under stones for their dwellings, to change their skins, or for the winter. Zycosa carries her egg-sack along with her on her hunt- ing excursions, fastened to her tail-end, and the young, when hatched, crawl on her back and stay there till large enough to shift for them- selves. If danger threatens, they will disperse in all directions, but the mother will stay and fight for them to the end. Dolomedes carries her egg-sack in her mouth and weaves a tent for her young.

The wolf spiders have long, strong legs, all covered, like their bodies, with thick fur. They are difficult to identify, as their colors are mostly monotonous gray or brown, and their markings often faint and uncertain and only in the colors of the hairs. Sometimes the underside, the breast-plate and some marks on the belly will be of much aid in identification.

Tent of Dolomedes.

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