4:7 '2 SUPPLEMliNT 



middle of May, and particularly in the morning of those days 

 in which the weather is disposed to be stormy. The two 

 sexes cover themselves with a thin and very delicate tissue, 

 which they construct in common. The male, after having 

 spread some threads on that side of the tent where the female 

 is placed, advances towards her, touches her gently a minute 

 or two on the back, and finally determines her to quit the 

 motionless and contracted posture which she held. After 

 this the coupling takes place. When the amours of these 

 animals are terminated, the two sexes live together in tran- 

 quillity, forming, in this respect, a rave exception in the 

 spider race. This good understanding appears to be general 

 among all the Theridia. 



Of all the known theridia, the species most deserving of 

 our attention is that which Kossi calls IS-gzittata, and 

 which is the spider known in the island of Corsica, under the 

 name marmigiiatto, or marmagnato. According to him its 

 bite is mortal, even to man himself. It produces the most 

 serious symptoms, which scarcely disappear by the operation 

 of sudorifics and scarifications. This animal spreads along 

 the furrows of the fields different threads, so as to stop or 

 impede the progress of locusts, of which it makes its prey. 

 Having the body reversed, and suspended by the fore-feet, it 

 draws, by the help of the hinder feet, some new threads, 

 which it shoots very quick, and by an undulatory movement, 

 on the feet of the locust, until it has sufficiently entangled it 

 to approach without any fear. It first bites it near the neck, 

 and then sucks it at its leisure, as the animal, on being bitten, 

 falls into a convulsion immediately, and perishes. If enclosed 

 in a vessel with a locust, the theridiou, by trying to envelope 

 it, soon exhausts all its silky matter and dies itself, having 

 lost all its strength. It will not attack the European scorpion, 

 or different spiders which may share its captivity ; but it is 

 not so with individuals of its own species, with which it 



