II Vl)|{ M II NA. 



to prosecute farther enquiries into the suKject. ]!ut, 1 acknowledge thai 

 I did so with tlio lea reluctance, oiler pernsim: tin- work special!' 

 \oted to it hy tin- learned and industri-ni- Otho Frederic Miillcr. \\li.i-. 

 writings, universally useful, must be always most highly pri/cd hy thtiw 

 who can 1'onn a due estimate of their intrinsic value. 



Tin- cxteii>ive knowledge delayed by Miiller was derived from that 

 beet of sources, practical acquaintance with each individual con- 



stituting ii genus, and that very often while many of them were yet in 

 the living state. Miillcr, like I.iniuriis, seized on a few of the ino.-t 

 prominent features, those not difficult to be recognized ; but, if any thinj: 

 shall be regretted of Miillcr. it i< his anxiety for decribing nnnihera to 

 great as to have left neither time nor opportunity for preserving hi.- suK- 

 ili\.-. 



Modern authors. ho\\c\er. perhaps less skilful, hut more ea^ci l<>i 

 change, have ventured to dismember certain genera, or have left only an 

 inferior s-etion to represent the whole. They have vainly endeavoured to 

 erect so many new systems from among the fragment*. But men- de- 

 scription of the body, including anatomical details, l>y entering on such 

 minutiu' as none but some of the more modern naturalists would have 

 thought of, is insufficiently adapted for general information. Ik-side*, 

 much remains for explanation ; for, the lower we descend for character- 

 as the source of deductions, the less important feature* are obtruded to 



view. 



The Ht/drachna; to be literally interpreted Water Spider*, are very- 

 beautiful animals, of delicate and symmetrical form, decorated with vivid 

 i-olours, agreeably interspersed. Their lively courses amidst their traiif- 

 purent dwelling, the limpid element, combined with the diversity of 

 their appearance, render them amusing and full of interest. 



Mu'ller, who is still to he held the leading authority on the su! 

 characterizes this genus generally, as engrossing animals distinguished by 

 eight feet, two articulated palpi, and two, four, or six eyes. 



The figures annexed to these observations, explain more amply that 

 the shajH? of the |KM!V is globular, ovoidal, or simple, with a prolongation 



