98 Mr. J. Blackwall on the Structure, Functions, (Economy, 



the cell and remained there in a state of torpidity, with its head 

 downwards. A gentleman on a visit at the house, whose curio- 

 sity to examine the spider minutely in its hybernaculum was 

 greater than his prudence, inclined the glass so much that the 

 air escaped from the cell, the water flowed in, and before I was 

 informed of the occurrence the dormant inmate had perished. 



The aquatic habits of this species have induced M. Walckenaer 

 to constitute with it a distinct family; but upon the same prin- 

 ciple Lycosa piratica and Dolomedes fimbriatus might be sepa- 

 rated from the Ld/cosida, as they descend spontaneously into 

 water and perform the function of respiration in that situation 

 precisely in the same manner as Argyroneta aquatica does ; yet 

 the position, which in conformity with their organization they 

 so consistently occupy in the systematic arrangement of the Ara- 

 neidea, has not been disturbed. Influenced by these consider- 

 ations, and guided by the relations of affinity predominant in the 

 structure of Argyroneta aquatica, I have included it among the 

 Drassidte. 



Family Ciniflonida. 



Genus Ciniflo, Black w. 



67. Ciniflo atrox. 



Ciniflo atrox, Blackw. Linn. Trans, vol. xviii. p. 607. 



Clubiona atrox, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. i. p. 605; Latr. 



Gen. Crust, et Insect, torn. i. p. 93 ; Sund. Vet. Acad. Handl. 



1831, p. 144 ; Hahn, Die Arachn. B. i. p. 115. tab. 30. fig. 87. 



Amaurobius atrox, Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. erstes Heft, p. 15; 



• Die Arachn. B. x. p. 116. tab. 355. fig. 831. 

 Titulus 21, Lister, Hist. Animal. Angl. De Aran. p. 68. tab. 1. fig. 21. 



Remarkable differences in structure, functions and oeconomy 

 effectually serve to distinguish the spiders belonging to the ge- 

 nus Ciniflo from those of the genera Clubiona and Amaurobius 

 with which they have been associated by arachnologists ; all have 

 eight spinners, and have the metatarsus of each posterior leg 

 provided with a calamistrum, consisting of two parallel rows of 

 spines, which is employed in the fabrication of their extensive 

 and curiously constructed webs ; they are also sedentary in their 

 habits, most frequently occupying crevices in rocks, walls, or the 

 bark of old trees, between which and their snares a communica- 

 tion is eff'ected through the medium of one or more slight silken 

 tubes. Though the importance of these characters is admitted 

 by M. Walckenaer, yet he still retains the species of Ciniflo 

 among the Clubiona (Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. iv. pp. 444, 

 445). 



The female of this common spider in the month of June de- 

 posits about 70 spherical eggs of a pale yellow colour, not ag- 



