4G8 SUPPLEMENT 



years, many individuals of the domestic spider. Some females 

 which he had isolated, produced in succession several ge- 

 nerations equally fruitful. The domestic spider grows con- 

 siderably with age, and some individuals are found extremely 

 large; but according to Lister the feet alone increase in 

 volume, and become more hairy. 



The Aranea lahyrinthica constructs its web on the same 

 model ; but it places it on hedges, bushes, at the lower part 

 of trees, or on different tufted vegetables. There may be 

 seen in the fields, towards the end of summer, a great quantity 

 of these webs. This species, however, is less common towards 

 the north of Europe. Lister observes, that it establishes itself 

 preferably in the neighbourhood of the habitations of the 

 great ants. It also appears that this spider lays its threads 

 in succession, to embarrass these insects while they are 

 running; that it stings them when they stop, and returns to 

 seek them some seconds after, when the poison has produced 

 its effect. It also feeds on bees ; but in failui*e of them, on 

 other insects, even on coleoptera. The feet of the male are 

 larger than those of the female, as well as in the common 

 spider. Coupling takes place, at least in the south of Eng- 

 land, towards the end of July. The cocoon is placed like 

 that of the domestic spider, and contains about sixty eggs of 

 a whitish colour, which Lister observes were the largest he 

 had ever seen. 



A female which he reared, suspended her cocoon to the 

 middle of a glass in which she was enclosed. She enveloped 

 it with different webs, divided by partitions, forming kinds of 

 chambers or alleys, but which conducted to the depot of the 

 eggs. The cocoon had the figure of a star. 



In the genus Aegyroneta, the habits of the only species, 

 Aquatica, have, from their singularity, attracted the attention 

 of several naturalists. It lives in the dormant or very slow 

 waters of marshes and dykes, which are not dried up, at least 



