46 F. M. CAMPBELL — OBSEEVATIONS ON SPIDEES. 



{Pholcus phalangioides) will if disturbed spin round and round so 

 rapidly, that it only gives the visual impression of an indistinct 

 circle of some light substance suspended from its web. These 

 simple habits become more complex in the triangle spider of 

 America (genus Hyptiotes, Walck.). The net is in the form of a 

 triangle, divided by two lines from the apex to the base, more or 

 less parallel to which run nine others. The apex is attached to a 

 twig by a thread, which the spider seizes, and then moves her 

 hinder feet backward. The effect is to put the whole net on the 

 stretch. Thus it will remain until an insect strikes it, when 

 the spider relaxes the hold of the hinder legs, and the net springs 

 back to its original position, entangling the prey.* 



In common with many other creatures, spiders "sham death" 

 an expression which I think is open to much objection, as it 

 suggests a complex cause for a phenomenon, whereas a simple one 

 will suffice. Dr. Preyer, of Jena,f has published his experiments 

 on animals while under the influence of sudden fright. He shows 

 them to be unconscious, and our general experience is confirmatory. 

 A child falls, and though not hurt loses himself for a few seconds ; 

 when regaining consciousness, he bursts out into a loud roar. Rabbits 

 appear powerless when weasels approach them. Birds and hares 

 will sometimes remain motionless on our sudden appearance. Many 

 moths never attempt flight when touched, and the white ermine, 

 the satin, the swallow-tail, and the male ghost moth will fall as if 

 paralysed when a net is swooped under them at night while on the 

 wing. The clouded-yellow butterfly will drop as if lifeless, when 

 closely pursued, and I would add to this incomplete list of the 

 results of fright the so-called " shamming death " of spiders. The 

 Epeira diadema gives almost a constant result if it be suddenly 

 touched, but it is strange to see it afterwards, as is often the case, 

 pursuing its way mindless of any further disturbance. The most 

 natural explanation of this apparent contradiction is, that 

 the phenomenon is dependent on fright, which is greater if 

 unexpected. Dr. Preyer found it difticult to produce satisfactory 

 results on the young of some animals, and not long since at 

 Mentone, while digging out a trap-door spider [Nemesia Moggridgii), 

 I was struck at seeing some of her progeny running about as if 

 nothing was happening, while others remained with their mother 

 motionless. On touching them with chloroform, the young died at 

 once, but the old one was quiet for thirty seconds or more, and 

 then moved but little. It would seem that she was unconscious 

 even of pain, for the application of this agent of death to large 

 spiders is generally followed by resistance. A parallel case to this 

 is the well-known death-watch beetle, which is said to submit to 

 any amount of torture without movement, after it has once di'awn 

 its head into its monk-like hood and folded its legs. That this 

 resignation to all consequences would be the case if it were con- 



* See Mr. "Wilder's paper in 'Proceedings of the American Association,' 

 August, 1873. 



t 'Sammlung PhysiologischerAbliandlungen,'Zweite Eeihe, Erster Heft, 1878. 



