472 Mr. Blackwall on the 



novelty which, notwithstanding my limited knowledge of the 

 writings of foreign zoologists, 1 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 Tab. XXXI. Fig. 1. Two of tliese filaments are 



straight 



