ABDOMEN.
On the under side of the abdomen, just behind the last pair of legs, are two hard, smooth patches, which cover the front pair of breathing-organs, the openings to which are two little slits at [Fig. 1], H. Between these is the opening of the reproductive organs, and, in female spiders, the epigynum, [Fig. 1], J,—an apparatus for holding the reproductive cells of the male.
At the end of the body are the spinnerets, which will be described in another chapter. There are three pairs of them; but many spiders close them together when not in use, so as to cover up the middle pair. The third pair of spinnerets are often several-jointed, and extend out behind the body like two tails. In front of the spinnerets is a little opening, [Fig. 1], K, which leads to air-tubes that give off branches to different parts of the abdomen. At M, [Fig. 1], are usually two colored bands, or rows of spots, marking the course of muscles attached to the skin at various points along these lines.
[Fig. 4] is the back of the same spider. The head is not separated from the rest of the body, as in insects, but forms, with the thorax, one piece. On the front of the head are eight eyes, Q, which are differently arranged in different spiders. At the back part of the thorax is a groove, P, under which is attached a muscle for moving the sucking-stomach, [Fig. 5], d. From this point radiate shallow grooves, that follow the divisions between the muscles of the legs. On the abdomen are several pairs of dark smooth spots, which mark the ends of muscles extending downward through the abdomen. The markings of this spider are very complicated. The spot on the middle of the front of the abdomen is a very common one, and, in some spiders, extends the whole length of the body. The waved lines on each side are also common, and, in long-bodied spiders, often form two bright-colored stripes, or rows of spots, running nearly straight the whole length of the abdomen.
Fig. 4.