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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. 



Among 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 

 VOL. XVI. 3 p novelty 



