reproduction of the Legs in Crafts and Spiders. 293 



15. 



Feb. 7. Segeslria cellaria. — one limb mutilated. 

 June — . (5 months) neither moulting nor reproduction. 



16. 

 Mar. 16. One limb mutilated. 

 June 6. Has moulted and reproduced it. 



17. 

 April 30. Tctragnatha extensa. — caught wanting two legs. 

 June 6. Has moulted and reproduced them. 



I need scarcely add that although the different experiments are given 

 with as few details as possible, yet that each particular was constantly 

 noted down at the time, in many instances daily, in others at moderate 

 periods. Most of the spiders which had reproduced either limbs or joints 

 were killed before the growth had been completed in order to show the 

 process better as preparations, but in a few which were allowed to live 

 until the growth was perfected, it appeared that but little increase took place 

 between the different moults, and the act of moulting two or three times 

 seemed to accomplish the full formation of the limb. Up to the period 

 of the first moult, the stump or suture (whichever it might be,) remained 

 positively unchanged in any way ; tho animal retired within a covering 

 which it had woven, for a day or two, and then came forth with the limb 

 or joint renovated: in o?ie instance o?i/y (No. 11 of the second series of 

 experiments) was there a deviation from this course — but there the moult 

 succeeded so quickly to the injury, that the system had probably been 

 prepared for it (the moult) previously to the mutilation, and the repro- 

 ductive act had not (if I may use the term) been contemplated by it : the 

 second moult at once accomplished it. 



From this intimate connexion between the renovation of the intesfu- 

 ments and limbs, it is I think but fair to assume that the latter have much 

 more the character of appendages to the body in at least this class (and 

 probably others) of animals possessing reproductive powers, than in those 

 of a higher grade, and that it is not therefore so wide an exception to a 

 general rule as it has hitherto been supposed. The subject is both an 



