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RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



suggest themselves as the necessity for employing them arises. 

 If the spider and cocoon can be placed in one box, well and good ; 

 if not, then two should be used, one for the animal and the other 

 for the cocoon or nest, but care must be taken to put a corres- 

 ponding number upon each. Do not put two living specimens 

 together in one box ; spiders are cannibals. Some spiders may 

 be taken by holding either the spirit bottle or chip box under- 

 neath ; when this method is adopted the Arachnid should be 

 gently touched with the linger or a light stick, whereupon it will 

 drop into whatever receptacle is held below. Quick running 



spiders (and some are very active) 

 may be taken by clapping a chip box 

 over them, and insinuating the card 

 beneath, after which the animal may 

 be finally secured by placing the lid 

 on top of the card, and then deftly 

 withdrawing the latter and adjusting 

 the lid. The Spider resting in its 

 web, may be easily captured by taking 

 the lid of a chip-box in one hand and 

 the bottom in the other, and then 

 bringing the two parts together 

 sharply, so as to encompass the 

 animal. Shaking branches into a 

 net or inverted umbrella will be 

 found very profitable. The larger 

 specimens may be lifted with the 

 forceps, and the smaller ones by 

 dipping the camel-hair brush in spirit. 

 Sweeping the long herbage will bring 

 to light a lot more. At first, doubt- 

 less, many a prize will be lost, but 

 practice and experience will soon 

 remedy that. 



When transmitting specimens through the post, be careful to 

 pack firmly and lightly, and write the address upon a tag. If 

 specimens of architecture are sent in company with the spider, 

 the latter should be in spirit, then both may be packed in the one 

 box. Sometimes living specimens, with their nest or cocoons, 

 may be sent through the post. The mere fact of being carried 

 from place to place, even openly, will not disturb the architect, 

 providing its cocoons are conveyed with it. 



Fig. 18. — Capturing a Spider 

 from the Web. 



