OF WASHINGTON. 27 



the tubuliform glands furnish the spinning material for the 

 cocoons. Thus we see the males are able to render their walk 

 ing secure by the usual guy-rope, and the females can cover their 

 cocoons safely. In consequence, the absence of these organs does 

 not interfere with the life of the animals. 



The paper was discussed by Messrs. Gill, Ashmead, and 

 Schwarz. 



Dr. Marx stated in answer to a question by Mr. Schwarz that 

 the Attidas have the six normal spinnerets, for, although they 

 spin no webs, they have occasion to elaborate a good deal of silk 

 for their winter quarters. Dr. Marx further stated that he had 

 learned from a correspondent near Baltimore that the common 

 Phydippus morsitans had died in large numbers from cold dur 

 ing the past winter, thus showing that the idea he had presented 

 at a previous meeting relative to the hibernation of Arctic spiders 

 was probably correct. 



Mr. Schwarz stated that he had observed a great mortality 

 among the Scolytids affecting pine trees near Bladensburg, Md., 

 the principal species being Tomicus cacographus and T. ccelatus. 

 Last fall these insects and their Iarva3 were extremely abundant 

 in the trees, but at the present time hardly a living individual 

 was to be found. Specimens of a coleopterous enemy of the 

 species, viz., Hypophloens parallellus, are alive at the present 

 time, and it may be that the work of this insect accounts in some 

 degree for the disappearance of the injurious forms, but he is 

 inclined to think that the unusual cold of the past winter was the 

 principal cause of the great mortality. Dr. Smith stated that as 

 these species occur also much further north, the mortality could 

 hardly have been caused by the cold ; to which Mr. Schwarz 

 replied that in his opinion a more or less extensive mortality from 

 unusual cold must occur occasionally to keep the numbers of the 

 beetles within bounds. Mr. Ashmead spoke incidentally of the 

 hibernation of a large spider of the genus Attus under the bark 

 of trees in Florida. 



Mr. Ashmead presented the following: 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE SPALANGIIN^E OF NORTH AMERICA. 

 BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD. 



Head large oblong or ovate, often tricornuted in front, the 

 occipital line usually complete. Ocelli 3, always present, tri- 



