7554 Arachnida. 



I have also several species yet under examination, whicli I 

 believe will prove to be new to Science : of the fifty-four species 

 mentioned ten are new to Science and eleven new to Britain, but 

 known and described by continental arachnologists. 



Although, however, I had such good reason to be satisfied with my 

 success, that success was, I think, chiefly owing to the study of British 

 spiders being even yet in its infancy, for I scarcely ever gave up an 

 hour for a search, either in woodland or on the heath, that I did not 

 turn up either something new or some species the knowledge of which 

 hitherto rested on a solitary specimen or so ; and I think this will be 

 the case for some time, more especially in those parts of the kingdom 

 yet unsearched. Little or nothing is yet known of Scotch spiders, 

 and while Mr. Blackwall's beautiful work on British and Irish spiders 

 (now being published by the Ray Society) is yet unfinished, it would 

 add much to the completeness of the work if more could be ascer- 

 tained relative to the Scotch species. 



T should be glad myself to enter into correspondence with any 

 Scotch entomologist on the subject of Arachnology, and to exchange 

 English Lepidoptera, or spiders, for spiders captured north of Berwick- 

 upon-Tweed. 1 shall also be most glad to name, as far as my know- 

 ledge of species will permit, any specimens either of English, Scotch 

 or Irish spiders sent me by post for examination. 



Spiders may be safely sent by post, placed in corked glass tubes, 

 with a little spirit in each tube, the tubes being packed with wadding 

 in a moderately strong wooden entomological post-box, or else in a tin 

 wax vesta box. In hot weather the lubes should not have much 

 spirit in them, as the expansion of it is apt to drive out the cork, or 

 else more frequently to burst out the bottom of the tube. A good way 

 to send a single tube is to cut a large wine cork in two lengthwise, 

 and in the two halves to hollow out just sufficient to receive the tube 

 without pressing upon it; the two parts being then tied together, with 

 the tube inside, may be sent in an envelope, with or without a little 

 wadding to steady it, to any part of the world, without damage : one 

 tube will hold a number of specimens of small species, but a larger 

 piece of cork, with two, three or more separate hoUowings-out, might 

 easily be made to transmit a large number of specimens, and this 

 would be much lighter than a tin box and less liable to fracture than 

 a wooden one. 



I have now and at other times called special attention to the success 

 I have hitherto met with, in hopes of inciting others to enter the field 

 of Arachnology ; but the question invariably asked me by those who 



