PECULIAR MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



397 



Magnified views of the muscular ribbons for moving the wings 

 in Syrphus inanis. , part of the belly. 6, the costo dorsal 

 muscles, c, d, the sterna dorsal, e, part of the head. 



less difficult subject of investigation than flying with- 

 out wings, as is practised by the gossamer spider 

 (Jlranea obtextrix, BECHSTEIN), and its congeners. 

 We do not allude merely to the threads carried out 

 from a spider by a current of air, till it is fixed and 

 forms a bridge, along which the creature can pass, 

 nor to the similar lines which are left to float freely, 

 in the case of the gossamer, without attachment* 

 We refer to the power which the spider apparently 

 possesses of directing its flight. Let any one endea- 

 vour to catch one of the spiders which may frequently 

 be seen dropping from the ceiling of a room, the 

 branch of a tree, or other elevated object, and he will 

 find it no easy task to lay hold of the little web spin- 



* See Insect Architecture, pp. 339-54. 

 VOL. vi. 34 



