It is, I find, in zoology as it is in botany: all nature is so full that that district
produces the greatest variety which is the most examined . . .
- White, G. 1887. The Natural History of Selborne. London, England: Walter Scott.
The longer one naturalizes in one place the more one becomes aware of the truth of White's
proposition. There are few, if any, places in North America that have received the attention
of Concord, Massachusetts and its environs. Anecdotal records of the town's flora and fauna
date to the first half of the eighteenth century and systematic studies begin with the work of
Thoreau in the mid-nineteeth century. The birds and the plants have received most of the attention
but in-depth field work has also focused on butterflies and dragonflies, reptiles and
amphibians, as well as rather more obscure groups like freshwater bivalves and solitary wasps.
A decade ago, on July 4th 1998, a Concord area Biodiversity Day organized by P. Alden and E. O. Wilson
resulted in nearly 2000 species being observed in one 24-hour period. Forty-nine species of arachnids were
recorded that day. For several years I have wanted to devote time to the spiders. I have settled on the
Jumping Spiders - a colorful and diverse family well suited to video presentation. Although uncertain
of the ultimate goal of these efforts, I plan to acquire footage over the next few years for
presentation here. I hope you enjoy the jumpers!
All video is from Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Specific locales and dates referenced by
record number (R-#); see "Salticid Data" link below. This footage is the property of Richard K. Walton and all rights are reserved.
With special thanks to John Huehnergard for sharing the hunt and to
Wayne Maddison and Jay Barnes for their expertise.
Please see Reference section below for useful information on the biology and natural history of
Jumping Spiders. A majority of the online references are the work of Wayne Maddison and the Wayne Maddison
Lab at the University of British Columbia.
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