472 Mr. BLACKWALL on the 
novelty which, notwithstanding my limited knowledge of the 
writings of foreign zoologists, I am disposed to claim for them, 
still they will not be found wholly devoid of interest. 
The favourite haunts of Clubiona atrox are the branches of 
trees and shrubs growing against buildings ; crevices in old 
walls; and the corners of windows. In these and similar 
localities it fixes its residence and fabricates its snare. On the 
objects surrounding the spot selected for its retreat, it extends - 
to a considerable distance, but without any apparent regularity 
of design, a number of fine shining lines intersecting each 
other at various angles, to which it attaches other lines, or 
rather fasciculi of threads, of a more complicated structure, and 
of a pale blue tint, nearly approaching the colour of skimmed 
milk. These compound threads, or flocculi, which in exposed 
situations retain their delicate hue for a short period only, (old 
webs being generally of a dull or sullied white, not at all 
advantageous to their appearance,) are arranged on the first- 
spun glossy lines both in longitudinal and transverse directions. 
When recently produced, they adhere strongly to such insects 
as come in contact with them, and, though perfectly inelastic, 
may be drawn out into fibres of extreme tenuity. A communi- 
cation between the snare of this spider and its retreat is esta- 
blished by means of a funnel-shaped tube of a slight texture, 
whose smaller extremity is in immediate connection with the 
latter, and, indeed, sometimes constitutes the animal's abode. 
Not unfrequently two or more tubes occur in the same web, by 
one or other of which the spider usually effects its retreat when 
disturbed. 
. If a newly formed flocculus: be minutely examined under the 
microscope, with a pretty high magnifying power, it will be found 
to consist of six lines, presenting an appearance similar to that 
represented by Tas. XXXI. Fig. 1. ‘Two of these filaments are 
straight 
