306 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
dition of spiders is effected, it will suffice to detail 
the proceedings of a single species; and as Epetra 
calophylla is of frequent occurrence about retired 
buildings situated in the country, and, consequently, 
may be procured without difficulty, I shall select it 
for the purpose. Preparatory to casting its integu- 
ment, this spider spins several strong lines in the 
vicinity of its snare, from which it suspends itself 
by the feet and a filament proceeding from the 
spinners. After remaining for a short time in this 
situation, the coriaceous covering of the cephalo- 
thorax gives way,—not in the median line of the 
dorsal region, as Dr. Leach’s statement would seem 
to imply, but laterally, disuniting immediately above 
the insertion of the falces and legs, so that the head 
and thorax are the first parts liberated. The line of 
separation pursues the same direction till it extends 
to the abdomen, which is next disengaged, the ex- 
trication of the legs being the last and greatest 
difficulty which the spider has to overcome. As the 
suspensory filament connected with the spinners of 
the exuviz is considerably shorter than the legs, and 
does not undergo any sensible alteration in length, 
the abdomen, during the process of moulting, be- 
comes gradually deflected from its original horizontal 
direction till it assumes a vertical position, nearly at 
right angles with the cephalothorax. By this change 
of posture, attended with numerous contortions of 
the body, and alternate contractions and extensions 
