PALPI.
In front of the legs are the palpi, [Fig. 1], C, C,—a smaller pair of limbs, with six joints and only one claw or none. They are used as feelers, and for handling food, and, in the males, carry the curious palpal organs, which will be described farther on. The basal joints, [Fig. 1], E, of the palpi are flattened out, and serve as chewing-organs, called “maxillæ.”
Fig. 3.
Mr. Mason has lately described, in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, a large spider which has teeth on the inside of the palpi, which, when the spider is angry, are rubbed against teeth on the mandibles, producing a noise.
MANDIBLES.
The front pair of limbs, the mandibles, [Fig. 1], D, are two-jointed. The basal joint is usually short and stout, and furnished on the inner side with teeth and hairs. The terminal joint is a small and sharp claw, which can be closed against the basal joint when not in use.
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.