1 62 Short Communications : — 



• From the learned observations of M. Audouin on this 

 class, it must have happened that the animals in the sacs which 

 he examined, and has called Achlysia, were in an early stage 

 of growth ; so that he had no opportunity of ascertaining what 

 I, under more favourable circumstances, discovered. 



Whether the metamorphoses of the Hydrachnadae be 

 known, I am not aware; but it will be very remarkable 

 should they be parasitic in their different states; and it struck 

 me, at first, as an extraordinary fact, that these animals 

 should remain in their sacs attached to the Z)ytiscus by 

 their rostrum, when they are matured, and have eight per- 

 fect legs for use. I believe the Limnochares are not uncom- 

 mon in ponds and ditches, and are supposed to feed upon 

 animalcula, &c. De Geer mentions, I believe, that the eggs 

 of a Hydrachna are attached to, and receive nourishment from, 

 oneof the water fleas {Gyvmus Lin,). — J. Curtis. 57. Upper 

 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, Nov. 16. 1833. [To Achlysia 

 Z)ytisci Aud. the text and figures in Zool. Journ, ascribe 

 only six legs.] 



Chelifer cancrbides. (V. 754.) — I have often taken this 

 odd little creature, and other species of Chelifer, attached to 

 the legs of Musca domestica, M. meteorica, and M. larva- 

 rum. I have observed them attached to flies, most frequently 

 in hot weather ; but they are to be found, at almost any time, 

 under the bark of trees, under stones, and amongst moss in 

 dryish banks. The C. ^:ancroides is known to live in old 

 drawers and closets, and amongst old books. It is undoubt- 

 edly, at times, a parasitical creature ; but not generally. 

 They attach to the legs of flies by one of their curious pin- 

 cers ; but I have never seen them so attached as to lead me to 

 believe that they derived nourishment from the flies. They 

 feed, no doubt, in their usual habitats, on minute insects. — 

 W. B. B. W. Nov. 14. 1832. 



Chelifer cancroides. (V. 754.) — A fly (Musca domestica) 

 was yesterday produced to me, to one of whose legs were 

 affixed four specimens of Chelifer rancroides. If this new 

 instance can be called accidental, I am at a loss to conceive 

 how so many enemies (as they doubtless are to its tribe) 

 had attached themselves to one limb ? If the fly had acci- 

 dentally placed the limb in a nest of these insects, it seems na- 

 tural to believe that it would have had sufficient sensibility to 

 withdraw it ere the whole family had time to attach themselves. 

 At present, the most probable reason which can be advanced 

 is, that the fly was asleep at the time. I have to regret that 

 a tender-hearted and fearful boy in the room should have 

 stopped all further investigation on this interesting instance. 



