404 Observations on a Mygale Spider. [Sess. 



they do not seem to be the least afraid of it ; they run 

 over it and under it, and are often seen in the spider's 

 little nest along with it. I have never found a dead or 

 maimed cockroach in its box, and believe spiders never 

 take life wantonly, but only kill what they require for 

 food. Our domestics take a great interest in the spider. 

 They had often noticed that the cockroaches shed their 

 skin, and were looking for the spider doing the same. A 

 year past, on the 10th October, when the cook was dusting 

 the top of the spider's box, she noticed it was standing with 

 its feet in the water-dish, and drew the housemaid's attention 

 to the fact. About ten or twelve minutes after, they returned 

 to have another look at it, and found it had cast its skin, so 

 the process did not occupy many minutes. The cast skin was 

 lying back downwards on the top of the water-dish — quite 

 clean and perfect. The next time it cast its skin, it seems 

 to have had a greater struggle to get out of it, for all the feet 

 were firmly fixed with web to the floor of the box, and the 

 whole skin was twisted into a shapeless mass. From this 

 skin some interesting microscopic objects were made. The 

 night before this spider cast its skin for the third time, I 

 noticed it was standing with its four front feet in the water- 

 dish. Next morning I looked at it a little earlier than usual, 

 and found it had cast its skin during the night. This and 

 the first cast skin when set were nearly as perfect as the 

 living animal. 



The moulting or " skin-casting " of spiders is a much more 

 complicated process than simply throwing off the outer 

 integument. The whole of the internal covering of the 

 alimentary canal, lungs, and other internal cavities, seem to 

 be also shed. Lost and mutilated members, such as legs, 

 palpi, and spinners, are reproduced at the same time. Mygale 

 spiders differ somewhat from other spiders, both in structure 

 and intelligence. In some respects they stand higher in the 

 scale of animal life. Although they do not construct a web 

 or snare for catching prey, many of them show much skill 

 in constructing their underground retreats, which are lined 

 with silk, and furnished with a cleverly contrived hinged 

 door, so neatly finished in imitation of the surrounding 

 ground that it is nearly impossible to detect the entrance. 



During the time I have had this spider, it has made a good 



