3678 Crustacea, 



The commpn Epeira callophylla, which so frequently constructs its 

 web on the outside of windows, is also nocturnal in its movements, 

 and will constantly be found in its web after dark. I have noticed of 

 this species, that if touched, it instantly feigns death, doubling up its 

 legs, and dropping towards the ground; it always spins a thread, how- 

 ever, as it descends, which remains attached to the spot from which it 

 fell; and if the observer stands still a minute or two, he will generally 

 see the spider gradually climb up this thread again, to the place it 

 before quitted. 



Many species now considered rare, are so only because their pecu- 

 liar haunts are not known. One, named by my friend Mr. Blackwall 

 Linyphia insignis, was described by him from a single female speci- 

 men, the only one he had seen before I sent him several last year. I 

 find this spider exceedingly common in the woods about this neigh- 

 bourhood, but always on the same plant, namely on the fronds of the 

 male fern (Lastrea Filix-mas), between the leaflets of which it spins 

 a small horizontal web ; and probably it may be found in the same 

 situation in other parts of the country. The woods in which it occurs 

 are full of the common brake (Pteris aquilina), but I never succeeded 

 in meeting with a single specimen upon this fern. This spider pro- 

 bably feeds upon some insects (chiefly perhaps small Tipulidae) which 

 are attracted by this plant: and that there is some peculiar attraction 

 of this sort about the male fern, appears probable, since I find it a fa- 

 vourite resort for several other spiders, besides the Linyphia insignis. 

 I may mention the Linyphia pratensis, Wider, L. alacris, Blackw., 

 and L. pulla, Blackw. : the last two are new species, which I disco- 

 vered this last summer,* and both of which T have found in conside- 

 rable numbers on the under sides of the fronds of this fern. 



R. H. Meade. 



Bradford, Yorkshire, November 8, 1852. 



A List of the Crustaceans of the Moray Firth. 

 By the Rev. George Gordon. 



In the systematic works on the Animal Kingdom, the Molluscous 

 tribes succeed those of the Fishes. This order would have been pur- 

 sued in the publication of these papers in this journal (Zool. 421, 502, 

 551, 3454, 3480), which are intended to enumerate the known animals 



* Descriptions of these by Mr. Blackwall will shortly be published. 



