Zoology. 



151 



Hydropkilus jnccus. — Sir, I am of opinion that the curious floating 

 nest of the Hydrophilus piceus (see ShaWy p, 96. vol. vi. p. 1. London 

 1806) yields in interest to none figured or described 

 in the Insect Architecture of the Library of En- 

 tertaining Knowledge. It is formed of a web or 

 case of silk, somewhat circular and compressed. 

 This floats at random on the water (fig, 27.), and 

 in its turnip-shaped structure repose the ova of the 

 insect. From this floating nest, the larvse, as soon as 

 thsy are excluded, plunge into the watery element. 

 The dome terminates in an elongated process, much 

 resembling the central fibre of the previously named 

 root ; and while the case itself is white, the horn 

 is more dense, and of a brown colour. I see Mr, 

 Rennie, the writer oi Insect Architecture^ has honoured 

 me with a notice, but certainly couched in terms 

 I can neither admire nor approve. In the second 

 edition of my Researches and Remarks (almost, from its novel interest and 

 materials, a new work), it may be seen that the writer, in echoing Mr. Black- 

 wall's opinion, has been premature. — J. Murrayy Feb. 12. 1830. 



Spider of Solomon. — In Vol. I. p. 373. reference is made to Dr. Scott's 

 paper on the semamith of Solomon, the original 

 of which I have since read. The Rev, Dr. Harris, 

 who, in his Natural History of the Biblcy has given 

 an interesting article on this subject, shows the 

 absurdity of translating the word " spider," and 

 adopts the explanation of the learned Bochart, 

 viz. that the animal alluded to was a small lizard. 

 He quotes Bellonius, Pliny, St. Austin, and Son- 

 nini, to prove the great abundance of these reptiles 

 in the houses of the Eastern countries. — J. M. 

 Philadelphia, Aug. 1830. 



Spider's Web. — The following diagram {fig. 28.), 

 from a sketch supplied to me by a friend, illustrates 

 the fabric constructed by some species of spider 

 (ilijgale flrvicularia ?). It was discovered in the 

 Brazils, in the hedges, a few miles from Rio Ja- 

 neiro, on the road to the gold mines of Tejuco. 

 The structure was trumpet-shaped, perfectly cir- 

 cular, and three feet in length. A cylindrical gallery, 

 two inches in diameter, traversed this truncated 

 cone from end to end, and preserved its central 

 position by lateral lines of attachment in the 

 form of radii converging toward the central orifice 

 at the greater end of the web, which was 10 in. 

 in diameter. Yours, &c. — J. Murray. Feb. 25. 

 1830. 



The Water-Spider. — The saunterer by the marsh 

 ditches in the month of May may frequently ob- 

 serve the dead shells of the marsh snail (Lymnae'a 

 palustris) floating, with their mouths upwards, on 

 the surface of the water. Now, why should this 

 be ; since, if you throw a dead shell into the water, 

 the chances are ten to one that it sinks to the 

 bottom ? Let them be taken, and the reason 

 will soon appear. Each shell will be found 

 tenanted by a water-spider (^ranea aquatica) 

 with its bag of eggs; and the ingenious inha- 

 L 4 



lUiri. 



