THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 45 



I noticed a few sour gums (Nyssa sylvatica) and 

 along the streets an occasional tulip tree {Liriodendron 

 tulipifera). Many more, to me, new and interesting 

 plants were found and from a botanical standpoint my 

 vacation near the coast was both a pleasant and a profit- 

 able one. 



Shiislinn, N. Y. 



SPIDERS AND FLOWERS. 



BY JOHN H. LOVELL. 



ON the 16th of July I noticed a bumblebee quietly at 

 work collecting pollen on a flower of the wild rose 

 {Rosablanda). My attention was for a moment diverted, 

 but was again quickly recalled by the loud buzzing of the 

 bee. A white spider had leaped upon its back and grasped 

 it with its mandibles just behind the head. At first the 

 bumblebee struggled violently, but gradually its efforts 

 became more feeble and soon ceased. The .spider now 

 dragged it over the edge of the flower to the leaves be- 

 neath, there to dine at its leisure. But at this point both 

 insects were dropped into my cyanide bottle. 



I had long known that some species of ThomisidcC, or 

 crab spiders (so-called because they walk more easily side- 

 ways or backwards than forwards) frequented flowersfor 

 the purpose of preying on the insect-visitors; but I had 

 supi)osed that so powerful an insect as the bumblebee was 

 safe from their attacks. I was inclined to believed that 

 the honeybee, which often falls a victim to this diminutive 

 tiger, represented their largest game. It now seemed 

 desirable to give more attention to observing their ways. 



The commonest species of this family is Misumena 

 vatia, a pure white spider with a red lateral stipe. Its 

 colors so closely mimic those of many flowers that when 

 concealed in a cluster it readily escapes notice. It usually 

 frequents such flower-clusters as the meadow sweet, elder- 

 berry, the viburnums and the bristly sarsaparilla, though 

 they are also found on large individual flowers like the 

 rose. It does not spin a web, but conceals itself among 



