Ottawa Spiders. ir 



the sleeping germs are roused into free active existence. Mr. 

 Halkett found examples of both sexes, but it not unfrequently 

 happens that for several seasons only females occur. These 

 produce agamic eggs, which like the ephippial eggs oi DapJinia, 

 so elaborately described by Sir John Lubbock in 1857, are able 

 to give birth to normal young. The production of non-sexual 

 eggs by Branchipus is another feature of unusual biological im- 

 portance. 



With such safeguards against extermination it is not 

 surprising that this highly organized and beautiful crustacean 

 should be widespread over our planet. It occurs in every quarter 

 of the globe and the salt-water form abounds, as Mr. Halkett 

 notes, in the remote salt-lakes of this continent. Semper was 

 however struck by its absence in certain oceanic islands, where 

 .Daphnia and nearly related Entomostracans occured. Strangely 

 enough the unfavourable cause is the absence of extreme winter 

 cold, as Brauer demonstrated. Branchipus, in the egg-state, may 

 be carried long distances, may be dried for many years, and 

 frozen for months ; but it needs the exhilarating influence of 

 penetrating cold such as that which our Dominion boasts to give 

 the stimulus essential to its continued vitality and successful 

 incubation. 



OTTAWA SPIDERS. 



By W. Hague Harrington, F. R. S. C. 



Our last volume contained an interesting list of one hundred 

 Canadian spiders, of which thirteen were indicated as occuring 

 at Ottawa. Subsequent shorter lists increased the number 

 recorded in this locality to about twenty. A start having thus 

 been made toward a knowledge of our spiders, it seems to be an 

 appropriate time to publish a list of those which I have collected. 

 This I am in a position to do through the kindness of Mr. 

 Nathan Banks who has recently examined my specimens. Many 

 more species will yet be added to our lists as on numerous 



