342 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1887. 



about 30 miles N. W., Avhere they are buried beneath 50 to 100 

 feet of more recent Tertiary sands and gravels. 



JNIost of the other species (Lower Miocene) that have previously 

 been noticed in the state occur at Shiloh, near Bridgeton, in Cum- 

 berland County, while others are found in Salem County. The lower 

 strata from which they were obtained also probably exists in a direct 

 N. W. line 33 to 35 miles from Atlantic City ; but these are likewise 

 covered by more recent Tertiary strata. 



November 22. 

 Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Twenty-eight persons present. 



Note on Oyrtophora b if urea and her cocoons, a New Orb-weaving 

 Spider. Dr Henry C. McCook remarked that during a temporary 

 stay in Florida, April 1886, he found nested upon the porch of Dr. 

 Wittfeld's place, Fair3^]and, Merrit's Island, on the Indian River 

 a little way below Rockledge, a spider which appears to be new to 

 science. Its snare resembles that of Oyrtophora eatidata, Hentz. It 

 also resembles that spider in the manner of hanging its cocoon string 

 in the vertical axis of its orb just above the hub. The character of 

 the cocoon, hoAvever, differs entirely from that of caudata. It is in 

 the shape of a somewhat irregular octogon, and is of a light green 

 color. The speaker had found as many as twelve cocoons in one 

 string overlapping one another in the manner which he had frequen- 

 tly observed with the cocoons of the Labyrinth spider, (Epeira 

 labyrinthea Hentz) and which may also be seen at times Avith the 

 cocoons of caudata, although for the most part, the latter are arran- 

 ged at intervals along the string. 



The cocoon strings collected varied in the number of cocoons 

 attached thereto, probably according to the period of advancement 

 in the process of ovipositing on the part of the mother. Of the 

 specimens collected one string contained 14, another 12, and another 

 10 cocoons. They are bound together along one side by continuous 

 series of thick white threads which extend from the top to the bottom 

 of the string. Each cocoon consists of two parts which have evi- 

 dently been fastened together by a selvage. These pai'ts present 

 the appearance of two dishes placed together edge to edge. They 

 are woven of a soft but rather tough texture. A very slight tuft of 

 flossy white silk is found inside, and within this the eggs are deposi- 

 ted. In one cocoon of a string of thirteen, twenty five minute dead 

 spiders were counted which had passed their first moult. In another 

 cocoon taken from a string of five only, there were twenty six. 

 The number varies a good deal, however. The cocooning period 

 appears to extend into May; at least Dr. McCook had received 

 from Miss Anna Wittfield, as late as the middle of June, a string 

 in which were some cocoons empty, one with spiderlings passed the 



