NOTICE OF THE RED SPIDER. 67 



While rambling iu the spring, (I believe Ma}', 1847,) in Haiuault Forest, I 

 met with a peculiar bottle-shaped nest of a species of Spider, attached to the 

 twig of a small bush with a kind of stout silken band, yet left iu such a 

 manner as to vibrate with the slightest breeze ; some weeks aftenvards, on 

 oi)ening the box where I had placed it with the Adew of determining the 

 species at some future time, I found an addition of six young spiders which 

 had liberated themselves from it which with the nest I have in my small col- 

 lection. The name of the species I am unacquainted with, though it is not 

 uncommon around London during summer, when full grown being about the 

 size of the Garden Spider, (E2)eira diadema,) the body rather flatter than 

 that species, of a brownish hue ; it does not appear to construct a web, but 

 frequents the upper surface of the leaves of plants, where it may be observ- 

 ed lying motionless, watching for its insect prey. 



There is an admii-able figure of the nest of this species in volume second 

 of the Magazine of Natural History, page 104, under the title of " A nidus 

 on a rush," though nothing was known of the species, being there supposed 

 to belong to a water insect. The figures have been copied in other works as 

 spider's nests, though as far as I am aware, the species peculiar to it ap- 

 peared not to be kuown, which induces me to send the above for the pages 

 of your interesting Journal. 



If any of your correspondents could inform me of the name of this species, 

 I should feel greatly obliged. 



Tennyson Terrace, Hackney Wick, Dec. 18th, 1854. 



RAMBLING REFLECTIONS AMIDST SNOW AND FROST; 



ANTICIPATING THE PLEASING PROSPECT 



OF SPRING. 



BY WILLIAM KTDD, ESQ. 



0, Winter! ruler of the inverted year, 

 I love ihee, — all unlovely as thou seem'st, 

 And dreaded as thou art. — Cowper. 



Eeviving Natuee seems again to breathe, 



Now loosen'd from the cold embrace of Death. — Thomson. 



All hail ! to the advent amongst us of stern Old Winter. He knows, as 

 well as we do, that Nature loves strong contrasts ; therefore has he watched 

 the opportvmity, whilst his fair mistress was dozing, to hold her empire with- 

 in his iron grasp. Soon, however, must the burly old fellow release his hold; 

 and having fulfilled his bracing mission, let a more gentle hand perfect that 

 which he has so well begun. He has done us good service, and we shall part 



