38 Dr. Heineken’s Description of Cerascopus. 
resembles the poising motion of a rope-dancer more than any thing else. 
The antenne are invariably used (bent to a certain angle) for touching 
the prey, and measuring its distance apparently, before it is seized. 1 
never Saw a fly taken by it without this previous operation, and once, when 
one was dropped close to the insect, they were bent at a more acute angle 
than usual, and the stroke failed; retreating alittle, the angle was in- 
creased, and the fly taken. They are always ina state of slow up and 
down motion, and are used as tactors and explorers upon all occasions ; 
touching either another animal or one uf the same species with a leg 
accidentally seems to be hardly perceived, but the imstant an antenna 
comes in contact with any thing, the insect suddenly darts back. They 
seem ina great degree too to supply the place of sight, which I suspect, 
although the eyes are of proportionate size, to be but limited, for after 
remaining quietly within a moderate sphere of vision from one of its own 
species, it starts off as though suddenly alarmed, upon the slightest 
contact. I have removed both from several individuals, and never saw 
them attempt to seize any thing afterwards. They invariably died, and I 
should say not from the mutilation, but the privation of food. When 
only one is removed, in some instances that which remains is clumsily 
made use of, but seldom efficaciously. Death sooner or later is the con- 
sequence, the abdomen is shrivelled and collapsed from lack of nourish- 
ment, the animal continuing as active as one with entire antenne, but either 
deprived of, or refusing food. The legs are not deciduous, and I have 
never seen a limb reproduced; this however, has not been fairly tried. 
It is the most unsparing and indiscriminate destroyer and devourer of its 
own species that I have ever met with. Spiders will kill, but rarely if 
ever suck, one another and their mates; but I have never succeeded by 
keeping all other food from them, (and the trial has been made frequently 
and for long periods) in inducing them to kill their own offspring, or 
indeed the very young of another of their own species; but a female 
Cerascopus killed and sucked a companion of the same sex, her own mate, 
and, after only a few days’ fast, her own young, andsucked her own eggs!~ 
They generally appear early in March, and I have now (April) one begin- 
ning to lay. Two summers ago one receiyed the male in July, laid four 
batches of eggs at nearly eyual periods between that time and November, 
and died, although used to confinement and well fed, early in December. 
