THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 
not think how it got into my net: certainly I had been 
sweeping. About half an hour after I observed a web, which 
I thought was a gossamer; but, on closer examination, was 
surprised to find it covered with a number of young Atypi, 
the same size as the one found upon my net. I counted 
those on the web, and found about forty or more: they were 
passing and repassing each other upon the threads; the web 
was upon some wild sage. I boxed a dozen, and left the 
others for future examination, for [ mean to “keep my eye” 
upon them, and learn all I can. [examined one under my 
microscope, and was much surprised to see the eyes move 
round, as though set upon a universal joint.—Fred. Enock ; 
30, Russell Road, Seven Sisters Road, April 3, 1876. 
{Of course | was greatly interested in this communication, 
and I confess felt extremely sceptical as to the eyes moving 
round, “as though set on a universal joint;” but not feeling 
competent to express any opinion on a subject so new and so 
unexpected, I forwarded the communication to Dr. Bower- 
bank, whom I have ever found ready to assist me in the 
editorial comments which I find I am expected to append to 
very many of the communications received for publication. 
As a matter of course I solicited Dr. Bowerbank’s sentiments 
on the subject, which, with his unvarying courtesy, he sent 
me as under :— 
“1 have two very fine cast skins of the garden spider, and 
in both these the eye appears to have been skinned along 
with the rest of the organs. If it had not been a fixed organ 
this could scarcely have happened. I have always felt 
convinced that spiders, like snakes, shed the skin of the eye 
along with the rest of the dermis. Of course I cannot 
contradict the assertion of Mr. Enock, as I have not the 
specimen he refers to; but I presume that the same structural 
law obtains through the whole tribe of spiders; and I do not 
think that it is in the power of a hand-lens to determine 
whether the eye does move or not, and | think it more 
probable that the reflection of the lens in the eye of the 
spider has deceived the observer, and a very slight movement 
of the creature’s head would cause the appearance of a move- 
ment of the eye. In the compound eyes of the dragonfly, 
beneath the microscope, the reflection of a pin, placed 
between the object-glass and the eye, may be seen in every 
