The Common Spiders of the United States

A scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work aims to provide accessible knowledge about common spider species found across the United States, specifically targeting readers who may not have a deep scientific background. The book seeks to raise awareness and reduce the common misconceptions about spiders, presenting them as an integral part of the ecosystem and encouraging a greater understanding of their habits and characteristics. The opening of the book serves as a preface that outlines the author's motivation for writing this guide. Emerton discusses the scarcity of accessible literature on American spiders, noting that most existing works are either expansive scientific texts or less comprehensive publications that are not widely known. He explains the structure of the content, which aims to describe well-known spider species, accompanied by illustrations for clarity. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding spider anatomy, behavior, and habitats while setting up the premise for a more formal introduction to various spider families and their distinguishing traits later in the book.