RESEARCHES UPON SPIDERS. 79 



seen united to the threads of the base, which is the covering of * silky tuft, 

 to which it fits perfectly, and in which is the future family, that is, the eggs 

 and then the little spiders, which know how to go out at the proper time 

 without disordering the internal architecture. The rest of the silk which 

 does not serve to form the pyramid is yellowish and can be used with ad- 

 vantage. 



Note to Reviser's Preface. This work was purchased for the As- 

 tor Library in April, 1853, by Dr. J. G. Cogswell, who was then Librarian. 



I desire here to express my sense of very great obligation to Dr. Cogs- 

 well and also to Frank Schrceder, Esq., the present Librarian, for the un- 

 usual facilities and the ready assistance afforded me in preparing the copy 

 and this translation. 



Dr. Cogswell remembered the title and contents of the work as soon as 

 it was mentioned to him, and we must attribute its having remained so long 

 unnoticed by others, partly to its small size in comparison to the large number 

 of other works on Arachnidse which the Astor Library contains, and to 

 its being in a language with which comparatively few are familiar, but chiefly 

 to the lack of interest in the subject of spiders' silk. B. G. W. 



V. List of Birds observed near Hamilton, Canada West. 

 By T. McIlwraith. 



[Communicated Aug. 2, 1866.*] 



The following list has been prepared chiefly from obser- 

 vations made by the writer during occasional excursions ex- 

 tending over a period of ten years. Those acquainted with 

 the subject will understand that under these circumstances 

 it is not likely to be complete, as from the real scarcity of 

 many species and the short stay made by others while on 

 their migratory course, it is not probable that all the species 

 of birds which visit this locality have been observed by one 

 individual during the time mentioned. As the number of 

 collectors increase, and greater interest is taken in the sub- 

 ject, there is no doubt but many species, which have 

 hitherto escaped observation, will be added to the list. 



* This paper was received in June, 1865, but has been unavoidably de- 

 layed. — Editor. 



