66 NOTES OM THE I'HOG. 



remove this silly notion, and prove its errand to be one of infinite service, 

 ridding us of slugs, and snails, the real pests and spoilers of our choicest 

 fruit. But their prejudice is of such ancient standing, and so deeply rooted, 

 that they cannot or will not comprehend ; and to turn them from their 

 blind stubbornness, you might almost as well — as Ii-ving says — attempt to 

 turn a nisty weathercock with a broken-winded bellows, or open an oyster 

 with a rolling pin. Time however will bring its remedy ; year after year will 

 still roll on, while we are sleeping beneath the grassy mound, and others will 

 spring up to aid the good work, and teach the mind to know that everything 

 for ends of good was all designed. 

 Leeds, Oct., 1854. 



NOTICE OF THE RED SPIDER. {DYSDERA ERYTHRINA, Walch.) 

 WITH REMARKS ON A FEW OTHERS. 



BY GEORGE STOCKLEY, ESQ. 



With the exception of one or two of our common species, seldom do we 

 see a notice of this interesting family in our serial works on Natural History; 

 yet no branch of that svibject is more replete with the wonders of providence 

 than the natural history of our native Spiders, of which a popular work, in a 

 cheap form, is much wanted. 



Of the above scarce species, I have met with but two during the past 

 season, both in the vicinity of Old Ford. It is said to be abundant in France. 

 Its general habitat appears to be under stones, and near old ruined walls. 

 It is an easily distinguished species from others of the same family, being 

 in shape somewhat like the Common House Spider, [Aranea domestica,) but 

 larger, with a longer body, legs pale red, thorax deep red, body inclined to 

 pale brown in some varieties. 



The most common species around London, in the early summer, is the 

 pretty Long-bodied Spider, {Tetragnatha extensa,) most abundant in those 

 lanes where the thick bushes and trees form so agreeable a shade on some of 

 our bright summer days. 



Another species, the {Aranea saccata) is abundant under stones, and 

 especially at the foot of old walls. The Garden Spider, (Epeira diadema,) 

 and the small hunter, {Salticus scenicus,) so beautifully striped like a zebra, 

 seem to be equally abundant throughout England, though I am not aAvare 

 if they are equally so in Scotland. 



There is a species I have met with at Wanstead, rather larger than the one 

 last named, Avith a longer body; I believe it is the (Aranea holosericea, Linn.,) 

 it is a prettily marked species, and scarce ; it occurs in July. 



