10 



On Collecting and Mounting Spider's Webs for the 

 Microscope. 



By George Hind. 



{Read August 22nd, 1879.) 



(Absti-act.) 



The author, after referring to the various methods adopted by 

 different species of spiders to secure their prey, read a copious 

 extract from Dr. Carpenter's work " On the Microscope," descrip- 

 tive of their spinning apparatus. He then, after a brief notice of 

 the large web-forming spiders of India and South America, and of 

 the bird catching spider of Surinam (Mi/gale avicularia)^ proceeded 

 to describe his method of procuring and mounting the web, in the 

 following terms : — 



" I found that several methods have been adopted in order to 

 obtain the desired result. One method was, to take the web 

 direct upon a slide having a cell fixed upon it, and at once pro- 

 ceed to mount it. There are several objections to this method. 

 In the first place, it is very difficult to secure the exact portion 

 of the web you wish, the web not being so well under control 

 when suspended in its natural position ; and in the next place 

 it is very difficult to get rid of the moisture that is sure to be 

 present. The method that I have found most successful is as 

 follows : — Take a few pieces of wire, about twelve inches long, and 

 bend them up so as to form rectangular frames. Make a number of 

 these frames, and place them in a racked box made for the purpose, 

 previously gumming them all round so that the web may adhere 

 to them. 



" At this season of the year, the webs of Epeira diadema are to 

 be found in almost any garden. On looking one over carefully, you 

 will probably find some portion that you will desire to preserve. To 

 do this, take one of the wire frames and put it behind the web ; on 

 drawing it towards you, the web will become cemented to the frame 

 all round. Now with a pair of sharp scissors clip away the rest of 

 the web free from the wire. If this be carefully done, you will find 



