232 Mr. Weslwood's Note upon the 



exertions are sufficiently extended in detailing the minute distinctions of 

 species, or in describing the various appearances observable in the struc- 

 ture of different groups (without reference, in the generality of cases, to 

 the habits and method of life which such variation of structure has un- 

 doubtedly been destined to perform, and for the support of which it has 

 been bestowed upon the creature) , that every fact, however shght, con- 

 nected with the natural history or economy of any group, is worthy of 

 consideration, as tending to afford confirmation of the great assertion of 

 our celebrated Ray, that " uses made things, and not things uses." 



The facts related below are connected with the Arachnida, a group 

 whose manners of impregnation and propagation are extremely singular. 



From what has hitherto been observed, it would appear that the nup- 

 tial embraces of this group are almost momentary, and from the circum- 

 stance of the bride being truly 



" etiam in amoribus saeva," 



it not unfrequently happens, that the bridegroom meets with an untimely 

 death from the fangs of his partner, unless he takes the precaution of 

 retiring with the utmost alacrity. 



The following quotation from the third volume of the truly valuable 

 Regne Animal, contains a brief, but excellent summary, by Latreille, of 

 what has been previously recorded upon the subject, and is here intro- 

 duced by way of contrast with, and explanation of the subsequent ob- 

 servations, which vary so materially from all previously recorded state- 

 ments, that I feel confident that no apology is wanted in offering them, 

 notwithstanding their crude and unpolished form. 



" Plusieurs de ces animaux sont si cruels, qu'ils ne font pas meme 

 " grace a leur propre espece, et que les m^les, craignant d'etre devores 

 " par leurs femelles, ne s'en approchent, au terns des amours, qu'avec 

 " une grande circonspection, ou apres beaucoup de tatonnemens. 



" Les organes sexuels sont doubles. Ceux des males, ordinairement 

 " tres-compliques et composes de differentes pieces ecailleuses, sont ge- 

 " neralement renfermes dans une cavite du dernier article des pal pes qui 

 " forme pour ces individus un sorte de massue ou de bouton. Ceux des 

 " femelles consistent en deux conduits tabuleux plus ou moins rapproches, 

 " et caches dans une fente transverse situee a la base du ventre entre les 

 " organes de la respiration. Le male y introduit alternativement I'or- 



