HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



79 



F.R.M.S., was virtually based on one or two 

 quotations from the opinions of that gentleman. 

 Dr. Sorby has simply stated that, as far as he had 

 yet been able to examine one of the sections of this 

 material, he felt inclined to doubt its meteoric 

 character ; and as his sole reason for this, he somewhat 

 vaguely remarks, that it did not " look" like any of 

 the meteorites he had examined, and added, that 

 not a single one of the many supposed meteorites 

 which had from time to time been sent to him had 

 turned out to be a real meteorite. I must confess I 

 cannot quite agree with Dr. Sorby, high authority 

 though he is. Apart from the circumstances con- 

 nected with the discovery of the meteoric mass (I 

 must continue to call it so, for in my own mind I am 

 quite convinced of its meteoric origin), which have 

 been accurately described in the beginning of my 

 paper, there are many other evidences which un- 

 mistakably tend to establish its meteoric character. 

 In the meteorite you have a complete network of 

 metallic iron, at least iron in a very low degree of 

 oxidation, and I am not aware of any other mineral 

 substance capable of receiving and retaining such an 

 absolute metallic lustre or polish. The most im- 

 portant evidence is afforded by the crust surrounding 

 the hand-specimens of this meteorite, this crust having 

 a general test-feature in meteorites. 



It would vastly swell this paper were I to mention 

 every circumstance tending to prove that the me- 

 teorite of Braunfels is really a meteorite, and I 

 must therefore content myself by referring your 

 readers to the additional information which I have 

 recently furnished in a letter to the Secretary 

 of the Quekett Club, and which will probably 

 appear in one of the earliest journals of the latter. 



The specimens of " Quartzite " referred to by 

 F.R.M.S. as having been exhibited along with the 

 "so-called" meteorite, bore not the slightest re- 

 semblance to the Braunfels material, and, except for 

 the presence of fluid-cavities (which constitute no 

 argument whatever) it is difficult to understand 

 the kind of analogy they were intended to furnish. 



It seems to be an universal custom to decry 

 anything novel, which may threaten to upset old- 

 fashioned notions and certain fixed ideas, and in 

 this instance the "authorities" have it much their 

 own way, because the knowledge of the subject is 

 limited to very few only. About two years ago, 

 when Dr. Hahn made known his discovery of organic 

 remains in certain meteorites found in Hungary, he 

 was fiercely attacked by the "critics," especially 

 of this country, and the very possibility of such a 

 discovery was derided. Now, after more elaborate 

 investigations, the truth of Dr. Hahn's assertions is 

 clearly demonstrated, and the meteoric origin of his 

 specimens is all but generally acknowledged. I 

 quote this, not as proving anything in my case, but to 

 show how common it is even for authorities to be in 

 error. Heinrich Hensoldt. 



A CHAPTER ON SPIDERS. 



AS notes on spiders are not often contributed to 

 your journal, a few may be acceptable to some 

 readers. Some fragments of leisure have been 

 devoted during the last two years to Arachnology, 

 and at various times I have had from twenty to sixty 

 spiders in captivity during summer months, and from 

 six to a dozen during the winter. 



The pugnacious disposition of most spiders is a 

 great obstacle to the observation of their habits when 

 together, as opposite sexes fight without scruple, and, 

 if placed together, one or the other, in a short time, 

 falls a victim to the natural ferocity of the order. 

 The females (being in most species the larger and 

 stronger) usually kill the males, and more often than 

 not devour them. I have frequently endeavoured to 

 keep them in pairs when nearly adult, but without 

 success, except in the case of those few species which 

 habitually associate. On one occasion, however, I 

 captured a pair of adults [Linyphia montana), just 

 at the time when they were dwelling harmoniously 

 together, the reproductory organs in both being 

 mature. (When spiders are full-grown, and after the 

 last moult, of which there are several, the sexual 

 organs are uncovered and the external characteristics 

 are clearly seen with a moderate magnifying power.) 



On reaching home my captives were transferred 

 from the pill-boxes in which they were caught to one 

 of the cells of a specially arranged cage, in which 

 they speedily constructed a light horizontal web, 

 somewhat differing from that spun when at liberty, 

 and resumed domestic life in apparent disregard of 

 altered circumstances. On the third day of their 

 captivity I found the spiders attached to the under 

 side of the web in coition, the male below the female, 

 reaching round and over her abdomen, inserting each 

 palpus alternately and at regular intervals into the 

 epigynum. 



I should perhaps mention here that the reproduc- 

 tive fluid did not flow from the body of the male into 

 the palpal organ through any internal tubes, but was r 

 I believe, taken into the palpus from the mouth. I 

 cannot be positive that the fluid was received Trom 

 the mouth, the position of the spiders preventing my 

 observing this closely, but I am certain that it was 

 received into each palpus before each insertion from 

 some other part of the body. I think some species 

 discharge the fertilising fluid on a little web, spun for 

 the purpose, and dip the palpus into it. 



At the moment of insertion the soft portion of the 

 terminal joint of the palpus became distended, having 

 the appearance of a minute bladder, and was used in 

 some way as an injector, causing the flow of the re- 

 productive cells, through the discharge tube of the 

 male, into the spermathecae of the female, from which 

 the cells would pass through connecting tubes into 

 the oviduct. 



Unfortunately I was unable to pursue my investi- 



