484 Mr. Blackwall on the 



from the slough, it remains for a short period in a state of great 

 exhaustion, suspended solely by a thread from the spinners 

 connected with the interior of the abdominal portion of the cast 

 skin, which is much corrugated and drawn together. The entire 

 process, as above described, occupies the space of about twenty 

 minutes. After reposing a little, the spider further attaches 

 itself to the suspensory lines by the claws of the feet ; and when 

 its strength is sufficiently restored, and its limbs have acquired 

 the requisite degree of firmness, it ascends its filaments and 

 seeks its retreat. 



Having frequently witnessed the moulting of spiders in their 

 natural haunts, and also in a state of captivity, and having care- 

 fully examined the cast skins of numerous species belonging to 

 the genera Epeira, Theridmi, Aranea, Clubiona, Drassus, Salticus, 

 ^c, in the precise situations and under the same circumstances, 

 apparently, in which they have been left by their former occu- 

 piers, I am thoroughly persuaded that the process is a very 

 uniform one. ,.. . ua ^a-. ,«;^i tr^ 



Intimately connected with the renovation of the integuments 

 is the reproduction of the limbs of spiders. For this interesting 

 discovery we are indebted to the late Dr. C. Heineken, whose 

 investigations relative to the subject are published in the Zoolo- 

 gical Journal, vol. iv. p. 284 & 422 ; and I am happy to bear tes- 

 timony to the general accuracy of his conclusions. 



The reproduction of the palpi does not appear to have been 

 noticed by Dr. Heineken ; but that these members, after suffer- 

 ing mutilation, are restored in the same manner as the legs, I 

 have clearly proved by repeated experiments. That mutilated 

 members are not always reproduced at a subsequent moulting, 

 even when it takes place at a period considerably after the 

 infliction of the injury, is rendered evident by the following 

 remarkable fact. On the 13th of July, 1830, a male specimen 

 fil. of 



