54 



7-osafia, T. heparana, T. viridana, T.forsfefava, Didyopteryx bergman- 

 niaiia, Penthina variegana, P. pmniana, Sericorts urticana, S. 

 lacunana^ Sciaphila mtbila7ia, S. subjedana, and Grapholitha trijnacu- 

 laiia. LarvcC noted were Goneptetyx rha?n;ii, Porthesia similis, and 

 Malacosoma neush-ia. 



Rev. F. H. Wood looked after the spiders, and has contributed some 

 most interesting notes : — " The Zy^ti^/^cg were well represented — Lycosa 

 agretica ( Blackw. ), L. campestris, and Z. saccata. A female of L. saccata 

 was captured, with cocoon attached under the abdomen by means of 

 silken threads. It may be noted that Dolomedes mirabilis (which 

 was found at Otford) carries the cocoon under the cephalothorax, 

 where it is held by the falces and palpi and threads drawn from the 

 spinnerets. The L. saccata and her cocoon became separated on 

 being transferred to a sod in a glass jar, and the cocoon fell away 

 some distance out of sight of the spider. An hour later I found that 

 she had regained possession of her cocoon. After two days she 

 ceased to carry her cocoon, which lay quite visible in a sheltered 

 position among the roots. She visited it frequently, but hunted all 

 over the sod for the flies which were given her. To-day (July i6th) 

 I notice that several little spiders, still very light-coloured, have 

 emerged and are running in the grass. 



" One of the Salticidce (jumping spiders) was beaten from buck- 

 thorn. I think it is Salticus coro?iatits, but am open to correction, as 

 it is new to me. The habits of this spider have been closely observed 

 in a glass jar with soil and dry twigs. Its favourite position is on the 

 gauze above, whence it watches for prey, turning its elevated cephalo- 

 thorax in all directions. The eyes of Salticus need notice. Forming 

 three sides of a square, they are admirably placed for all-round vision. 

 In front the largest two are placed between two smaller ones, and at 

 the end of each lateral row are two large ones surmounting the 

 smallest two. The spider leaps swiftly down on a fly crawling below, 

 turning completely over in its descent, and holding by a silken thread 

 to its former position. The falces and legs are very strong, and its 

 hold on a struggling bluebottle twice its size showed its tenacity. It 

 dropped suddenly from above and held on to the insect's thorax, 

 while both rolled over and over till the poison had taken effect. 



" Thomisidce. A most interesting find was made in the discovery 

 of Thomtsus Iiictuostis, a beautiful spider, with clear white lines sur- 

 rounding a light brown cephalothorax and brown abdomen, on which 

 darker shades enclose a pinkish space. This spider was found 

 guarding its cocoon in a dry leaf. It has now (July T6th) fastened 

 this leaf by strong threads to a piece of bark in a glass jar. It never 

 leaves its charge, except to take food placed on the threads near its 

 home. Its movements, like most of the Thomisidce (crab spiders), 

 are slow and generally sideways. Another Thomisus, T. paliidus, was 

 kindly handed me by Mr. F. Noad Clark. This spider is of a light 

 creamy yellow. This colour is evidently a disguise. T. /i/di/osus, in 

 the instance above, can scarcely be distinguished from the dry leaf 



