PREFACE 

THE present work will be completed in two volumes. The first 

deals chiefly with the distribution of British spiders and the influence 

of climate and environment. The second views them in relation to the 

other creatures which inhabit the world. The two together provide an 

account of the comity of spiders. 

If without deep thought we were to draw up plans in the manner of 

an engineer for the construction of a hypothetical spider intended to 

compete with all others, we might feel inclined to specify large size, 

agility, good eyesight, a venomous bite, protective or aggressive 

coloration, and an ingenious snare for catching prey. How then can we 

account for the fact that in Britain nearly half the species and numeri 

cally more than half the spider population belong to one family, the 

Linyphiidae, which possess not one of these characters in high 

degree? To what factor or factors do they owe their dominance? 

The challenge of this particular problem first decided me to collect 

data for the present book. I have not contented myself with seeking an 

answer to this question alone   other problems appear in plenty   but 

when I do attempt to provide my answer towards the close of the 

second volume the choice of subjects for review in the limited space 

available will become more evident. For the most part I have 

concentrated on a study of British spiders, but I have not hesitated to 

complete the picture with examples from or comparisons with their 

relations overseas. 

For one like myself who is employed in an office during the day it 

is no easy matter to consult libraries, undertake extensive field work, 

and devote the necessary