STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF SPIDERS. 291 
may not have had that attention bestowed upon it 
which it undoubtedly merits. As it is one, however, 
which for some time past has occasionally occupied 
a portion of my leisure hours, I shall proceed to 
detail the results of my observations, trusting that if 
they should not. possess that novelty which, notwith- 
standing my limited knowledge of the writings of 
foreign zoologists, I am disposed to claim for them, 
still they will not be found wholly devoid of interest. 
The favourite haunts of Ciniflo atrox are the 
branches of trees and shrubs growing against build- 
ings, crevices in old walls, and the corners of win- 
dows. In these and similar localities it fixes its 
residence and fabricates its snare. On the objects 
surrounding the spot selected for its retreat it ex- 
tends to a considerable distance, but without any 
apparent regularity or design, a number of fine, 
glossy lines intersecting each other at various angles, 
to which it attaches other lines, or rather fasciculi of 
filaments, of a complicated structure, and of a pale 
blue tint, nearly approaching the colour of skimmed 
milk. These compound filaments, or flocculi, which 
in exposed situations retain their delicate hue for a 
short period only (old snares being generally of a dull 
or sullied white, not at all advantageous to their 
appearance), are arranged on the first spun glossy 
lines both in longitudinal and transverse directions. 
When recently produced they adhere strongly to 
such insects as come in contact with them, and, 
u2 
