1833.] SPIDERS, 16^ 



give the description of this spider, but merely state that 

 it does not appear to me to be included in any of Latreille's 

 genera. The little aeronaut as soon as it arrived on board 

 was very active, running about, sometimes letting itself 

 fall, and then reascending the same thread ; sometimes 

 employing itself in making a small and very irregular 

 mesh in the corners between the ropes. It could run 

 with facility on the surface of water. When disturbed 

 it lifted up its front legs in the attitude of attention. On 

 its first arrival it appeared very thirsty, and with exserted 

 maxillae drank eagerly of drops of water ; this same 

 circumstance has been observed by S track : may it not 

 be in consequence of the little insect having passed 

 through a dry and rarefied atmosphere? Its stock of 

 web seemed inexhaustible. While watching some that 

 were suspended by a single thread, I several times 

 observed that the slightest breath of air bore them away 

 out of sight, in a horizontal line. On another occasion 

 (25th), under similar circumstances, I repeatedly observed 

 the same kind of small spider, either when placed or 

 having crawled on some little eminence, elevate its 

 abdomen, send forth a thread, and then sail away 

 horizontally, but with a rapidity which was quite un- 

 accountable. I thought I could perceive that the spider, 

 before performing the above preparatory steps, connected 

 its legs together with the most delicate threads, but I 

 am not sure whether this observation was correct. 



One day, at St. Fe, 1 had a better opportunity of 

 observing some similar facts. A spider which was 

 about three-tenths of an inch in length, and which in 

 its general appearance resembled a citigrade (therefore 

 quite different from the gossamer), while standing on 

 the summit of a post, darted forth four or five threads 

 from its spinners. These, glittering in the sunshine, 

 might be compared to diverging rays of light ; they 

 were not, however, straight, but in undulations like 

 films of silk blown by the wind. They were more than 

 a yard in length, and diverged in an ascending direction 

 from the orifices. The spider then suddenly let go its 

 hold of the post, and was quickly borne out of sight. 

 The da^ was hot and apparently quite calm ; yet under 

 irh circumstances, the atmosphere can never be so 

 mquil as not to affect a vane so delicate as the thread 

 t I spider's web. If during a warm day wo look either 



