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XXVI. Notice of several recent Discoveries in the Structure and 
Economy of Spiders. By John Blackwall, Esq. F.L.S. 
Read January 18, and February 15, 1831. 
Å monce the various species of Spiders which capture their prey 
by means of snares composed of the animal secretion emitted 
from their spinners, it would be difficult to select any, the Geo- 
metricians alone excepted, whose structure and economy are 
better deserving of investigation than those of Clubiona atrox. 
Whoever inspects closely the web of this very common species, 
cannot fail to be struck with the singularity of its appearance, 
and will naturally feel a desire to be made acquainted with the 
process employed in its formation. Such, at least, has been 
the case with myself; and I have experienced no small degree 
of disappointment, in not being able to obtain any information 
on the subject from those authors whose works I have had an 
opportunity of consulting. This unsuccessful examination of 
the labours of naturalists, many of them distinguished for the 
extent of their learning, the minuteness of their researches, and 
the comprehensiveness of their views, induces me to believe it 
probable that the inquiry may not have had that attention 
bestowed upon it which it undoubtedly merits. As it is one, 
however, which for some time past has occasionally occupied a 
portion of my leisure hours, I shall proceed to detail the results 
of my observations ; trusting that if they should not possess that 
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