STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF SPIDERS. 827 
closely corked and locked up in a bookcase, her sup- 
ply of food being at the same time discontinued. In 
this phial she remained till the 30th of April, 1831, 
on which day she died, without receiving the slightest 
nourishment of any description ; yet, till the autumn 
of 1830, no apparent change had taken place either 
as regards her external appearance or physical energy. 
Throughout the entire period of her captivity she 
never failed to produce a new snare when the old one 
was removed, which was frequently the case; and it 
is particularly deserving of attention that the alvine 
evacuations were continued, in minute quantities and 
at very distant intervals, to the termination of her 
existence. 
In publishing cases similar to that just detailed, it 
is desirable that dates should always be given; for 
Spiders, during the winter months, remain in a state 
of inactivity, their vital functions becoming feeble 
under the benumbing influence of cold ; consequently, 
until they are invigorated by an increase of tempera- 
ture, a supply of nutriment is not required. 
So little appears to have been done for the purpose 
of determining the longevity of spiders with some 
approach to accuracy, that a few observations on 
the subject probably will not be regarded as super- 
fluous. 
A young female Zegenaria civilis, disengaged from 
the egg on the 6th of July, 1842, after quitting 
the cocoon: was placed in a separate phial and was 
