Egg-Cases of Spiders. 



577 



2. (Fig. 58. a.) Flagon- 

 shaped, its greatest natural dia- 

 meter f F m « ; tne upper part 

 attenuated into a strong stiff 

 line; mouth downward, small, 

 closed by a slight web. Colour 

 of the case, brownish. It hangs 

 suspended from the common 

 web by a transverse short cord. 

 It is formed by a lovely little 

 spider, whose body resembles a 

 globule of quicksilver. 



3. (Fig. 58. b.) Nearly spheri- 

 cal, greatest natural diameter 

 -/V in., brown, hanging loosely 

 from a line of slight silken 

 threads, attached to mosses and 

 ferns in the high damp woods. 

 There is no mouth, but the side 

 is ruptured by the young, which 

 are numerous. It appears to 

 belong to a genus separated 

 from Phalangium by Mr. Kirby. 



4. (Fig. 58. c.) Plate-shaped, 

 greatest natural diameter }$ of 

 an inch, whitish ; base thin, ex- 

 panded ; centre raised and cir- 

 cular. Specimens of this case 

 are spun firmly upon doors or 

 wooden partitions, united to- 

 gether, sometimes, to the num- 

 ber of 3 8 . The young 



spiders escape by removing the 

 side of the superior lid. 



5. (Fig. 58. d, a lateral view). 

 Circular, raised high in the 

 centre ; greatest natural diame- 

 ter 1 in., of a snow-white web, 



usually secreted in leaves drawn together by the female as a 

 temporary lurking-place. The young escape by bursting the 

 margin . 



6. (Fig. 59. a.) Circular, thick, and compressed, shaped like 

 a round white cake; greatest natural diameter fcj of an inch. 

 This is always borne by the female, pressed to her chest, and 

 firmly held there by the palpi. She will only surrender it 

 with life. The young escape by rupturing the margin. It 



Vo VIII. — No. 54. 



s s 



