THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 



not think liow it got itUo my net: certainly I had been 

 sweeping. About half an hour after I observed a web, which 

 I thought was a gossamer ; but, on closer examination, was 

 surprised to fiud it covered with a number of young Atypi, 

 the same size as the one found upon my net. I counted 

 those on the web, and found about forty or more : they were 

 passing and repassing each otiier upon the threads; the web 

 was upon some wild sage. I boxed a dozen, and left the 

 others for future examination, for I mean to "keep my eye" 

 upon them, and learn' all I can. I examined one under my 

 microscope, and was much surprised to see the eyes move 

 round, as though set upon a universal joint. — Fred. Enoch; 

 30, Runsell Road, Seven Sisters Road, April 3, 1876. 



[Of cotu'se 1 was greatly interested in this communication, 

 and I confess felt extremely sceptical as to the eyes moving 

 round, " as though set on a universal joint;" but not feeling 

 competent to express any opinion on a subject so new and so 

 unexpected, I forwarded the communication to Dr. Bower- 

 bank, whom I have ever fomid ready to assist me in the 

 editorial comments which I find I am expected to append to 

 very many of the communications received for publication. 

 As a matter of course I solicited Dr. Bowerbank's sentiments 

 on the subject, which, with his unvarying courtesy, he sent 

 me as under: — 



" I have two very fine cast skins of the garden spider, and 

 in both these the eye appears to have been skinned along 

 with the rest of the organs. If it had not been a fixed organ 

 this could scarcely liave happened. I have always felt 

 convinced that spiders, like snakes, shed the skin of the eye 

 along with the rest of the dermis. Of course I cannot 

 contradict the assertion of Mr. Enock, as I have not the 

 specimen he refers to; but I presume that ihe same structural 

 law obtains through the whole tribe of spiders; and I do not 

 think that it is in the power of a hand-lens to deteru)ine 

 whether the eye does move or not, and I think it more 

 probable that the reflection of the lens in the eye of the 

 spider has deceived llie observer, and a very slight movement 

 of the creature's head would cause the appearance of a move- 

 ment of the eye. In the compound eyes of tlie dragonfly, 

 beneath the microscope, the reflection of a pin, placed 

 between the object-glass and the eye, may be seen in every 



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