Zoological Collections. 145 



5. Aranea domestica, possessed of a Natural Diving-Bell, to assist it in 



crossing- Water. 



A house-spider was placed by Mr Bell on a small platform, in the mid- 

 dle of a rummer full of water, the platform being about half an inch above 

 the surface. It presently made its escape, as was anticipated, by suffering 

 a thread to be wafted to the edge of the glass. Mr Bell, suspecting it might 

 have been assisted by the water being so nearly on the same level, poured 

 some of the water away, and placed the spkler as before. It descended by 

 the stick that supported the platform, till it reached the water, but finding 

 no way to escape, it returned to the platform, and for some time, employed 

 itself in preparing a web, with which it loosely enveloped the abdomen, by 

 means of the hinder legs. It now descended, without hesitation, to the 

 bottom of the water, when Mr B. observed the whole of the abdomen to be 

 covered with a web containing a bubble of air, probably intended for re- 

 spiration, as it evidently included the spiracles. The spicier enveloped in 

 this little diving-bell, endeavoured on every side to make its escape, but in 

 vain, on account of the slipperiness of the glass; and, after remaining at 

 the bottom for about thirteen minutes, it returned, apparently much ex- 

 hausted, as it coiled itself closely under the little platform, and remained 

 afterwards without motion. — Zoological Journal, vol. i. 283, 



6. Mode of Catching Fish by Diving, peculiar to the Gulf of Pairasso. 



The diver being provided with a rope, made of a species of long grass, 

 and which floats near the surface, has only to move his canoe where he 

 perceives there is a rocky bottom ; this done, he throws the rope out so as 

 to form a tolerably large circle ; and such is the timid nature of the fish, 

 that, instead of rushing out, it never attempts to pass this imaginary bar- 

 rier, which acts as a talisman, but instantly descends, and endeavours to 

 conceal itself under the rocks. 



Having waited a few moments till the charm has taken effect, the diver 

 plunges downwards, and not unfrequently returns with four or five fish, 

 •weighing from two to six pounds each. As they seldom find more than 

 the heads concealed, there is the less difficulty in bringing forth their rich 

 prizes ; and when the harvest is good, the divers are so dexterous, that 

 they have a method of securing three or four fish under each arm, beside 

 what they can take in their hands. The fish greatly resembles the John 

 Dory. — Blaquiere's Second Visit to Greece. Lond. 182.5, Part ii. p. 40. 



7. Rapidity of the Effects of the Poison of some of the New Holland 



Snakes. 



In a letter which we have received from His Excellency Sir Thomas 

 Brisbane, he mentions that one of the snakes which he has at home bit 

 two of his pointers, one of which died in three 7ninutes, and the other in 

 about thirty minutes. Sir Thomas observes, that the venom of these rep- 

 tiles can be compared in its effects only to the prussic acid. 



VOL. III. NO. I. JULY 1825. 



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