3*20 EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 



confirm his opinion as to the identity of the species. — Bibliotheque Universelle dt 

 Geneve. 



4. Propagation of Spiders. — In some recent Nos. of the Atinales des Sci- 

 ences Naturelles, M. Duges, of Montpellier, has published extremely interesting 

 papers on Spiders ; from one of them we extract the following : — 



The eggs of Spiders are placed in cocoons which vary much in form and struc- 

 ture. They are generally round, and surrounded by an irregular web ; they are 

 sometimes flattened in the shape of a disc. Those of one species of Epeira 

 (Epeire soyeuse), says M. Duges, resemble the Gourds vulgarly called bonnet- 

 de-pretre (priest's-pate). But those of the Araignee labyrinthe and the Epeire 

 fasciee require a more detailed description. Both are often found suspended in 

 the midst of tall plants ; that of the former consists of a large apartment formed 

 of rather compact taffety, with openings pierced for the passage of the mother, 

 who generally watches her treasure, but abandons it at the slightest alarm.* In 

 this apartment is suspended, by a dozen pillars, a smaller chamber filled with 

 down, in which is situate the papyraceous bag containing eggs of the size of a 

 grain of Millet, and less numerous than in many other species. The cocoon of 

 the Epeire fasciee is frequently met with in the middle of France, and every one 

 living there must have noticed this beautiful ball, of the size of a Partridge's egg, 

 the shape of a small truncated pear, and of a pale yellow color, intersected with 

 thin black longitudinal bands. The interior is of the consistency of parchment, 

 and has a lid above the truncature. In the centre, and upon the finest web, is 

 placed a small groove of hair, itself a lid, and filled with many hundreds of round 

 -eggs, of a beautiful orange yellow. 



M. Duges mentions many analogous facts, and notices various means of pre- 

 servation employed by the mother, when he terminates his essay by some remarks 

 on the instinct which actuates her, observing, that this instinct is not always so blind 

 as one might suppose, and that the insect sometimes testifies a kind of intelli- 

 gence. In the majority of instances, however, it is a wholly mechanical impulse 

 which moves it. Hence it is that one may deceive the instinct of Dolomedes 

 and Lycosa, whose custom is to carry their groups of eggs with them. One may 

 substitute for this group a ball of cotton, which will generally be adopted, and 

 protected with as much care as a true cocoon, by the female who has been de- 

 prived of her own offspring. It is true, however, that if she has the choice she 

 generally discovers her error, and does not allow herself to be deceived a second 

 time. 



* We question whether this is a correct expression. At the approach of a human form the in- 

 sect would doubtless disappear with all speed ; but where there is any chance of a successful 

 defence being maintained on the part of the parent inBect, we believe she will not be found to 

 desert her charge. — Ed. 



