12 



went tbe length of asserting that one Spider not oniy caught, but 

 devoured small birds ; and figured the Mygale avicularia, "VValcken., 

 in the act of preying on a Humming-bird. Now the Mygale does 

 not spin a net, but resides in tubes under ground, and in all its 

 movements keeps close to the earth; vvhile Humming-birds never 

 perch except on branches. The food of Mygale consists of Juli, 

 Porcelliones, subterranean Achetee, and Blattce : a hving Humming- 

 bird and a small Anolis, placed in one of its tubes, vvere not oniy 

 not eaten by the Spider, but the latter actually quitted its hole, which 

 it left in possession of the intruders. The largest Spider of the West 

 Indies that spins a geometrical web is the Nephila clavipes, Leach ; 

 and its net may perhaps, occasionally, be strong enough to arrest 

 the smaller aniong the Humming-birds : but it is not likely that the 

 Spider wouId eat the birds. A small species of Sphceriodactylus, Cuv., 

 introduced into one of these nets, was enveloped in the usual man- 

 ner by the Spider; but as soon as theoperation was completed, the 

 Spider lošt no time in cutting the line and allovving her prisoner to 

 fall to the ground. Mr. MacLeay consequently disbelieves the 

 existence of any bird-catchivg Spider. 



The Paper was accompanied throughout by numerous notes, in- 

 cluding observations on many subjects adverted to by the author; 

 such as the habits of the land-Crabs of Cuba; a description of the 

 grey Lizard of the coast, apparently a species of J gama ; &c. They 

 also included an account of two species of Sphceriodactylus, Cuv., 

 which are characterized as follovvs: 



Sph^ekiodactylus cinereus. Sphcer. caudd corporis longitudine ; 

 totus cinereus, translncidus, capitejlaviori, apice roseo; sguamis 

 dorsalibus punctis minutissimis nigris aspersis. 

 Long. tot. 24 unc. 



This may possibly be the small house Lizard of Brovvne's Jamaica. 

 Spu^riodactylus elegans. Sphcer.Jasciis dorsalibus transversis 

 nigris 14; capite cceruleo-cinereo, subtiis nigro-Jasciato į dorso 

 subviridi; caudd rubrd, corpore breviore ; ventre cinereo. 

 Long. tot. Ii unc. 



Both these Lizards are very common in houses in Cuba, occur- 

 rii)g aniong books or vvherever they can find shelter. They have 

 bright eyes, are pretty and very harmless, and come out of their 

 corners in rainy vveather, declaring war against everything in the 

 shape of a fly or musquitoe. 



'J'he Paper was also accompanied by drnwings of the egg, larva, 

 and pupa of Urania Femanditice, vvhich were exbibited. 



