3G2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



think, therefore, the gregarionsness of this variety may be 

 viewed as the retarded development of one particular function ; 

 else why should they disappear so suddenly, and when their 

 usual food is as abundant as ever ? 



With reference to the foregoing extract, I should like to 

 ask some of your correspondents who are well acquainted 

 with the Araneidea whether there are any four-eyed spiders 

 known ? Blackwall says, in the Introduction to his history 

 of the ' Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland,' " All spiders 

 at present known have two, six, or eight eyes," and, on the 

 principle of the difference in the number of eyes, divides 

 them into the three tribes of Octonoculina, eyes 8; Senocu- 

 lina, eyes 6 ; Binoculina, eyes 2 ; which he says include all 

 species hitherto discovered. Has Mr. Masterman discovered 

 a new tribe of spiders, or is his observation inexact? Also, 

 does the structure of spiders admit of their swallowing the 

 substance of their prey or devouring their webs as Mr. 

 Masterman relates the Paraguayan species to do .? The 

 pharyngeal aperture is described by Blackwall as "minute," 

 and only adapted for the passage of liquids. — E. B Itch all ; 

 Xenlmj, October 30, 1869. 



J Entomological Notes, Captures, 8fc. 



Cidaria russata and C. immanata. — So much has been 

 said about these two species lately that I reluctantly make a 

 few remarks about them, in reply to Mr. Porritt's communi- 

 cation (Enlom. iv. 353). C. russata is always double- 

 brooded, and appears on the wing in May and August. 

 C. immanata is single-brooded, and appears in July, but it 

 continues on the wing a long time, and 1 have often taken 

 specimens in August and the beginning of September. 

 There is no difficulty whatever in distinguishing the perfect 

 insects, if they are in good condition, except in the case of 

 suffused specimens where the markings are nearly obliterated, 

 and these rarely occur. The eggs o("C. russata are of a dirty 

 white colour, those of C. immanata bright yellow. The 



