1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 103 



(9) ?No. 149: June 14 (hatched June 29); July 16; July 19; July 

 23; July 29; August 1. 6 cocoons. 



The quick succession of these cocoons will be noticed, sometimes co- 

 coons being made upon consecutive days. This is because only a 

 few eggs (perhaps never more than 12 or 15) are laid in any one 

 cocoon. The base of the cocoon is a flat disk, generally broader than 

 the more or less arched cover; the cocoons are pure white. In the 

 test-tubes most of them were placed against the glass, others built 

 upon the web; sometimes they were arranged in rows, one placed 

 upon another. 



Care of the Young. — The mother appears not to remain by her 

 cocoons nor to guard them in any way. The young make their own 

 way out of the cocoons, emerging at one point between the base and 

 the cover. 



Feeding. — Relatively to its size this species is the most forward in 

 attack, attacking large insects, such as blue-bottle flies, which many 

 larger spiders flee from. It evidently trusts to the great strength of 

 the web, in which large insects become helplessly entangled. The 

 little spider rushes immediately at the entangled victim, seizes hold 

 of it with his jaws without spinning upon it, and keeps his hold though 

 violently shaken by the prey. 



Theridium tepidariorum C. Koch. PL IV, fig. 2. 



Individuals observed, males: No. 7, captured April 29, killed May 19; No. 8, 

 captured April 29, moulted the same day, escaped the same night; No. 13, 

 captured May 1, escaped May 3; No. 19, captured; May 2, killed May 16; No. 

 20, captured May 2, killed by $ No. 17 May 18; No. 71, captured May 8, 

 killed May 23; No. 77, captured May 13, moulted May 15, died (of starvation 

 probably) June 3 ; No. 81, captured May 14, killed May 18; No. 115, captured 

 May 24, killed next day; No. 116, captured May 24, killed next day; No. 123, 

 captured May 26, died June 7; No. 125, captured May 26, died June 11; No. 

 126, captured May 26; No. 127, captured May 26, died June 6; No. 155, captured 

 May 30, died June 29; No. 217, captured June 19, died June 29; No. 254, captured 

 June 26, killed (by $ No. 253) July 10; No. 319, captured July 14, died August 6. 



Individuals observed, females: No. 6, captured April 29, died June 19; No. 16, 

 captured April 29, died about September 1 ; No. 17, captured April 29, moulted 

 May 9, killed May 30; No. 18, captured May 2, died (apparently starvation) 

 June 2; No. 26, captured May 2, killed May 8; No. 76, captured May 13, died 

 (starvation) June 3; No. 124, captured (on the same web with (^ No. 123) 

 May 26, died July 3; No. 129, captured May 26, died July 29; No. 154, captured 

 May 30, died about September 1; No. 156, captured May 30, died July 23; 

 No. 202, captured June 11, died July 29; No. 253, captured June 26, died about 

 September 1 . 



Moulting. — This was observed in one cJ' only; the process lasted about 



