58 



geance of the morm of Armenia. Minute spaphylini, 

 for instance, did their numbers increase, would speedily 

 deprive us of the economy of vision : on the other 

 hand, the aranea aeronautica may occasionally be- 

 come the prey of insectivorous birds and even of other 

 insects, though the altitude to which they soar will be 

 a tolerable security. The swallow seldom reaches their 

 ultimate elevation, and but few insects can rival them 

 in this respect, though we have met the bee on the 

 summit of the Rhigi, among the wild flowers there, and 

 the ausonia, we believe, scales the loftiest range of the 

 Alps. Some prowling insect on rapid wing, on two 

 occasions, carried off our aerial spider when pendent 

 from its attachment. 



