194 ; T'ransactions.— Zoology. 
notably amongst the jumping spiders (Salticides), are unsurpassed by insects 
of any order, in respect both to brilliancy of colouring and the designs formed 
by its distribution. Some of the curious and delicate little species of the 
genera Argyrodes and Ariamnes are perfect marvels of metallic brillianey— 
one of the latter (yet undescribed) from Ceylon, has the abdomen of a delicate 
yellowish-buff hue, covered thickly with separate and nearly round spots or 
scales of a transparent kind of silvery substance, looking like a compound of 
silver and mother-of-pearl. Colours and markings, although at times liable to 
mislead, are yet nearly always specifically characteristie, and should therefore 
be carefully noted before they had faded, or, as is often the case in preserved 
specimens, run one into the other. 
Besides their eraft and skill, spiders are also very cleanly in their habits 
and persons. I have several times watched one of our common English 
Saltici—Calliethera histrionica, Koch—engaged for many minutes in brushing 
and cleaning its forehead and eyes with its hairy palpi, just in the way that a 
cat acts with its fore-paws for a similar purpose. Many spiders show great 
attachment to their eggs and young; the female Lycosa will do battle for her 
egg-cocoon until apparently convinced of the uselessness of continuing her 
attempts to regain it. Many, also, of the genus Clubiona, as well as others, 
brood over and tend upon their young, until growing up they disperse to find 
their own means of subsistence. It is not meant, however, that the young are 
fed by the parent, for very young spiders probably exist almost solely for a 
time on the moisture imbibed from the atmosphere, though at a very early age 
young Epeirides may be seen catering for themselves among the smaller prey 
of insects caught in the parental snares. 
III.—MODE OF SEARCH AND CAPTURE. 
With regard to the search for spiders and their capture, it might almost 
be sufficient to say search éverywhere, and capture in every possible or practicable 
way ; but still it may be useful, as the result of experience, to make a few more 
detailed remarks upon those heads. "There is scarcely any conceivable locality 
but what some species or other of spiders may be found in it, and, therefore, 
none should be set down à priori as unlikely, or not worth a close examination ; 
among many other favourable localities, however, may be mentioned 
particularly loose bark of trees, under which numerous species conceal them- 
selves by day, and many others dwell entirely, forming underneath it their 
snares and egg cocoons ; beneath stones and detached pieces of rock myriads of 
spiders dwell ; in this habitat are found many of the Drassides, a numerous 
and, though generally plainly coloured, exceedingly interesting group ; among 
rubbish and heaps of débris, wood, brickbats, or what not, beneath and among 
cut grass and rushes or reeds which have lain some little time after cutting, also 
