168 Report of the Meteorological Sub-OommUtee /or 1888. 



like foldings of an excessively delicate membrane, between which 

 air permeates on the outer side, and the blood is brought into 

 efficient communication with the air on the other (as in the 

 mammaUan lungs). The long heart, which is found in the 

 upper median line of the abdomen by four sets of veins, draws 

 the blood from the abdominal cavity, and propels a part through 

 the cephalo- thoracic artery to the head and legs (the artery 

 separating into two branches on meeting the exuvial stomach, and 

 embracing it in its forward progress) ; the rest is passed through 

 the lung-cavity by means of side branches arising from the base 

 of the heart. 



The alimentary canal is commenced by a long sucking tongue, 

 along the centre of which is a furrow leading into a fine chitinous 

 oesophagus, which ends in a chitinous stomach or gizzard. The 

 interior coat of the whole of this is shed at every moult, and so 

 must be looked upon as being a modification of the mouth. The 

 true stomach is met with beyond the exuvial stomach, and 

 generally consists of a sac furnished with eight or ten coeca, 

 which correspond with and approach the legs and palpi ; sub- 

 sequently the intestine takes a course down the median hne, 

 rismg more or less in the abdominal region as the underlying 

 ovaries are more or less distended with eggs ; on the far side of 

 the ovary the intestine meets and discharges into a large sac 

 situated in the extreme rear of the spider, and which empties 

 itself by an opening immediately above the spinnerets. 



The nervous system is contracted in spiders to a large thoracic 

 infra-OBSophageal ganglion, which supplies the limbs and abdo- 

 minal organs with nerves, and a supra-oesophageal ganglion, 

 which supplies the eyes and head generally. In this respect 

 spiders are far superior to insects, and again are very nearly 

 allied to crabs. 



Tlie near allies of each, the scorpions and lobsters, are perhaps 

 still more similar in their construction. 



73.— Eepokt of the Meteokological Sub-Committee fok 1888. 



(Bead February 13th, 1889.) 



The programme of arrangements for observing the daily rain- 

 fall round Croydon, as announced at the Anniversary Meeting 

 last year, has been fully accomplished, the whole organisation 

 being under the immediate charge of iVIr. F. C. Bayard, the 

 Honorary Secretary of the Committee. The year commenced 

 with a staff numbering 31 observers, superintending 34 stations. 

 Of these, two stations have been discontinued. Captain Shcrrard, 



