194 Traiisactions. — 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 brilliancy — 

 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 characteristic, 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 craft 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, j ust 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 Gluhiona, 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 yoimg are 

 fed by the parent, for very young spiders probably exist almost solely for a 

 time on the moisture imbibed from the atmosj)here, 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 SEAECH AND CAPTURE. 

 "With regard to the search for spiders and their capture, it might almost 

 be sufficient to say search everywhere, and capture in every i^ossihle or j^^'Cicticahle 

 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 a jJTiori as unlikely, or not worth a close examination ; 

 among many other favourable localities, however, may be mentioned 

 particularly loose hark 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 heajjs of debris, wood, brickbats, or what not, beneath and among 

 cut grass and rushes or reeds which have lain some little time after cutting, also 



