Spiders, Insects. 271 



warm air or water, I shall be likely to succeed in preserving 

 the health of the summer birds of passage. — J. C. 



Spiders. — Spiders feed on Grapes. — Sir, The whole ex- 

 tensive genus ^4ranea has been always considered to be carni- 

 vorous, I believe, without any exception. As a fact deviating 

 from this general rule has lately come under my notice, I beg 

 to make it known. 



Whilst employed in examining the habits of the ^4'cari, or 

 red spiders, which so frequently infest the vinery, I accident- 

 ally threw a small portion of a grape-berry in the web of a 

 spider which had spun its network across the window of my 

 hot-house ; to my surprise, I perceived the wily inhabitant in- 

 stantly dart from its hiding-place, seize the grape, and remain 

 for a considerable time, fixed on it, sucking the juice with ap- 

 parent avidity and delight. As I attached some consequence 

 to this novel scene, I repeated the trial with equal success. 

 I then searched for more spiders, and in a short space of time 

 had about a dozen visiters regaling themselves on the rich 

 nectar of the ripe black Hamburg grape. I know not if others 

 have made the like observation before, but I doubt not that it 

 will prove interesting to many. The spider in question, 

 by the form of its web, belongs to the class Orbicularia of 

 Walckenaer, and is closely allied to the A. diadema of GeofFroy. 

 I continued from the latter end of August to the beginning 

 of November occasionally to regale them with this food. 

 They evinced a decided preference to black grapes, and their 

 time for feeding was usually towards evening. I also found 

 that if the piece of grape was too large, they seemed afraid to 

 approach it, and if fed too often, they became shy, and avoided 

 too frequent disturbance. 



I do not think this circumstance need alarm your gardening 

 friends ; for this spider prefers a situation where it can dwell 

 secure from the shaking of the vine or wires of the house, 

 and it is evident that its net is intended for another sort of 

 food. — Frederick C. Labis. Guernsey, Jan. 21. 1833. 



Insects. — An Instance of Sagacity in the Dragon Fly 

 (iE'shna vdria). — One day, last July, walking down West End 

 Lane, Kilburn, I observed a pair of the JE's/ma varia sporting 

 over the surface of a pond. While admiring the elegance of 

 their evolutions, and the brightness of their colours shining in 

 the sun, another male made its appearance. This obtruder 

 upon their mutual happiness sans ceremonie began chasing the 

 female, but upon this the real mate immediately pursued his 

 rival, and a very pleasing sight took place. They were now 

 actually in a hostile engagement, flying at each other by re- 

 peated darts, the shining armour of the combatants, and their 



