320 Rev. R. T. Lowe's Descriptions of 



a Frog absorbing sometiraes in half an hour as much as half its own 

 weight, and in a few hours the whole of its own weight of water, and 

 nearly as rapidly giving it off when placed in any position that is warm 

 and removed from moisture. Dr. T. contends that as the Frog tribe never 

 drink water, this fluid must be supplied by means of absorption through 

 the skin. Both Frogs and Toads have a large bladder, which is often 

 found full of water: " whatever this fluid may be, (he says,) it is as pure 

 '• as distilled water and equally tasteless; this I assert as well of that of 

 " the Toad which I have often tasted, as that of Frogs." 



Art. XLII. Descriptions of two species of Araneidte^ 

 .Natives of Madeira. In a Letter to the Editor, hy the 

 liev. R. T. Lowifi, B.A. 



TO THE EDITORS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL. 



Gentlemen, 



The accompanying drawings, with notes of the observations from 

 which the following characters have been drawn up, were made partly in 

 my presence, and came into my possession altogether on the death of Dr. 

 Heineken. My separate investigations and enquiries having since gone 

 far to satisfy me of the correctness of his views relating to the two 

 Araneida which are the subject of this short notice, I feel myself called 

 upon to make them public. But farther than having fully proved the 

 fidelity of the drawings, and repeatedly confirmed by my own observa- 

 tions the correctness of his, I shall be entitled to litde more merit than 

 that of throwing Dr. Heineken's notes into a proper form and language 

 for publication ; while, on the other hand, should the following facts 

 prove neither new nor interesting, I must take upon myself the blame for 



