422 Dr. Heineken on the Reproduction of 



Art. LIII. Observations on the Reproductio7i of the Mem- 

 bers in Spiders and Insects. By Charles Heineken, 

 M.D. 



(Continued from page 294.) 



As a favorable opportunity offers, I avail myself of it for continuing 

 the subject of my former communication, although I am yelr ignorant 

 whether it has been published or not. 



After many experiments, which it would be a mere waste of time to 

 enumerate, I am unable to estabhsh the fact that young spiders part with 

 their limbs more readily than adults ; generally speaking they do, but 

 not so universally as to make it a law of their economy. Hunters, un- 

 der all circumstances, but especially when the limbs have been crushed, 

 throw them off with greater alacrity than web-makers. The following 

 experiments will,I think, satisfactorily prove that they, (spiders generally), 

 exercise the privilege of choice, as to retaining or detaching an injured 

 member, and that in the instances of crushing it is influenced (as before 

 suggested) by the extent of the injury and the process of reparation 

 which would be required. 



1. 

 July 31. Epeira fasciata. — Tibia crushed with a pair of forceps. 

 Aug. 1. Swollen and stiff, and the hmb useless. 

 2, Thrown off at the suture. 



2. 

 Ep. fasciata. Tibia crushed. 

 Looks plump and uninjured. — Crushed again. 

 Swollen and corrugated. 

 Ditto. 

 Has disappeared. 



3. 

 Ep. fasciata. — Tibia crushed. 



The injured limb cannot be distinguished from the other. — 

 The tarsus and tibia (different legs) crushed. 



Aug. 3. The limb of which the tibia was crushed on the 31st, has 



