PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 161 



spiders, may be commonly seen in the summer running about among the herbage. 

 Some species, as the M Lycosa campestris," frequenting dry pastures and heaths ; 

 others, as the "Lycosa piratica," being semi-aquatic, and living in marshes and 

 swamps, where they may be found running among the stems and roots of aquatic 

 plants, and even on the surface of the water. The Lycosae may also often be found 

 secreted beneath stones. The jumping species, the most common of which is the 

 pretty little " Salticus scenicus," are mostly seen, when the sun is shining brightly, 

 running on the surface of walls or the trunks of trees. 



None of the spiders comprised in the foregoing groups form webs for the purpose 

 of capturing their prey; but in the " Errantes" and u Sedentes," the insects upon 

 which they feed are entrapped in webs spun for the purpose, and the sight of these 

 webs will often serve to direct the collector to the hiding places of the spiders. 

 Many of the sedentary species (which are so called from this habit), particularly 

 the M Epeirae " and " Linyphiag," spin large webs between the branches of trees 

 and plants, and lie in wait in the middle or at the side of them. The " Errantes," 

 on the contrary, prowl about in the neighbourhood of their webs, and often secrete 

 themselves in fissures of walls, between leaves folded together, or beneath pieces of 

 loose bark, keeping up a communication with their webs by means of long threads. 



I will now briefly enumerate or recapitulate the principal places in which the 

 arachnologist should search for his prey. Firstly, beneath stones which have re- 

 mained for some time on the ground without being disturbed, but, at the same time, 

 have not become deeply imbedded. Many spiders may be found in these situations at 

 all seasons, but they should be particularly examined in the spring, as many of the 

 web-making species — as Epeira?, Linyphiae, Theridionidse, &c. — may at that 

 season be found secreted there. Secondly, many spiders may be seen running 

 among the roots of grass and underwood, and many of the small sedentary species, 

 particularly minute Linyphiae, make their webs in this situation across little ine- 

 qualities in the ground, and beneath the surface of the leaves of herbaceous plants, 

 particularly of ferns. Thirdly, examine any leaves of trees or bushes which are 

 curled up, for the edges are often fastened together by spiders, and the animal will 

 be found secreted within. Fourthly, look out for the webs which you may easily 

 see spun in the angles of walls, between pieces of rock, and, especially at the latter 

 end of the summer and in the autumn, in trees and hedges ; in many cases you 

 may see the architect sitting in his toil, or, if not, hidden somewhere near. 



Lastly, I may mention a locality in which it is said that rare spiders may occa- 

 sionally be found — I allude to the nests of some of the species of sand-wasps, 

 which insects partially kill, and then store up a stock of spiders for the food of their 

 young in the larva state. 



Mr. Hogan exhibited the following rare Lepidoptera— viz., Notodonta cucullina, 

 bred from a larva taken on the maple, near Halton, Buckinghamshire, and 

 an Irish specimen of Rhodaria Hibernicalis, from the collection of the Rev. 

 J. Greene ; of Microlepidoptera, Coleophora discordella, Tortrix teterana, Iarea 

 lineolea, Depressaria assimilclla, Roslerstammia granitella, Argyrolepia Badiana, 

 Cochylis Erancillaria, from Mr. Shield's collection ; and from his own collection 

 the following: — Xjlina petrificata, Anisopteryx aescularia, Anticlea derivaria, 

 which have not been previously recorded as Irish. 



MAY 27, 1854. 



R. Ball, Esq., LL.D., President, in the chair. 



Dr. Ball exhibited some Ruffs (Machetes pugnax), which he had purchased 

 in Clifton, which showed great variety in their plumage, not one of them (four in 

 number) being alike ; and some beautiful Trogons. 



Mr. Hogan exhibited specimens of a red Mite (Trombidium), found in great 

 numbers in a gentleman's house, near Stourport, Worcestershire. 



Dr. Carte read the following communication on the 



BALISTES CAPBISCUS (EUROPEAN FILE-FISH). 



" A specimen of this fish — so rare to the British seas, that it is only recorded 

 as having been once captured on the Sussex coast — was taken lately in Galway Bay, 



