254 POPULAR HISTORY OF THE AQUARIUM, 



which might be suggestive of a new train of inquiry^ and an 

 experiment or two. Mr. Lloyd observed one of these Spiders 

 which had fallen from the outside of his own jar into a 

 tank of salt-water ; but he had immediately protected him- 

 self from the action of so unaccustomed an element by con- 

 structing a belb in which, when found, he was comfortably 

 ensconced, apparently suffering no inconvenience from the 

 novelty of his situation. Mr. Lloyd, however, thinking the 

 poor Spider could but be ill at ease, rescued him from his 

 position and restored him to his own jar. I confess I 

 should like to have seen how long he could defy the briny 

 fluid; and am not quite sure whether, if an opportunity 

 occurred, I might not be cruel enough, '' by the merest ac- 

 cident,^'' to drop some poor straggler into sea-water, just to 

 try whether he could not become naturalized in it. 



Our Plate XYIII. represents Argyronetce and their cells 

 in water. The upper oblong nest is formed of thicker ma- 

 terial, especially at the roof, than the other. It is the 

 cocoon, in which are deposited the eggs; the lower ones 

 are the air-bells in which the Argyronetce reside. The small 

 bells, hanging in thready weed on the right hand, are those 

 formed for the young. 



