4o6 Observations on the Flight of Flying Fishes. [Sess. 



under part of the abdomen near the front. In the female 

 the oviducts terminate between the four stigmata. 



The spinning - organs of spiders are situated near the 

 extreme end of the abdomen. This spider has only two pairs 

 of spinnerets, — one pair long and^ prominent, and composed 

 of several joints ; the under pair short and single-jointed. 



Supplementary Note — Oct. 1907. 



It is well known that spiders can exist for a long time without food ; 

 and if they have access to water, little change will be noticed in their 

 appearance. The one now under re\'iew took no food for over six months, 

 and for fully four months before that time it took very little, although it 

 had always a good sujiply. Notwithstanding this long fast, it kept plump 

 and healthy looking up to Friday evening, Oct. 11, when it was observed 

 standing with its feet in the water. The abdomen was much shrunk and 

 wrinkled, and when touched with the finger the spider made but a feeble 

 response. Next morning we were surprised to find it had changed its 

 skin, for it seemed to be dying the night before. On examining the cast 

 skin, it was noticed that it had cast the left fore-leg with it, and for the 

 present it is minus a leg ; but should it live to change its skin again, it 

 will in all likelihood reproduce the lost member. 



X.— OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLIGHT OF 

 FLYING FISHES. 



By Mr MERVYN VAUGHAN, 

 Second Officer of the Cable Steamer Cambria. 



{Communicated May 8, 1907.) 



Befoee starting I would like to say that the following are 

 simply my own ideas, based on my own observations, and that 

 you must take them for what you think they are worth. 



To begin with, the reason, or one of the reasons, of my 

 having taken such close observations of flying fish is that some 

 years ago I stated that I thought they really did use their 

 wings in flight, and my statement was ridiculed by a man who 

 takes a good deal of interest in such things. At that time I 

 was not so sure of my facts as I am now, and the number of 



