> ZOOLOGY. 361 
nia through the roots was prevented, while the leaves were sub- 
jected to the influence of this substance in either a gaseous or 
dissolved condition. The upshot of his experiments was that a 
variety of plants subjected to these conditions all had the power . 
of absorbing carbonate of ammonia by their aérial parts both in 
the gaseous and the dissolved condition and of employing it in 
the building up of their tissues. The plants did not appear how- 
ever to thrive when the access of ammonia through the roots was 
entirely prevented. The experiments did not indicate that Legu- 
minose have any special aptitude for absorbing ammonia through 
their aérial organs, nor for assimilating the combined nitrogen of 
the atmosphere.—A. W. B. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Per Sprpers.—Veritable pets they were, and why not? Wehear 
of pet cats, pet monkeys, pet toads, and an English naturalist 
had his tame wasp; then why not pet spiders? But without con- 
sidering why or why not I had them and enjoyed them for several 
months. The account which I now give of them is written from 
notes taken several years ago. I did not then nor do I now know 
the genus to which these spiders belonged, but think they may 
have been of the genus Lycosa. There were two taken at differ- 
ent times ; the first I found under a stone, the second was brought 
to me pretty thoroughly benumbed with wet. and cold, having been 
taken from a tub of water. I had already provided a domicile for 
my first capture in the shape of a large cigar box, covered with a 
pane of glass, and watched with some interést its reception of a 
new inmate, half expecting it would make an onslaught on the 
weaker one and kill it for its intrusion, but it manifested no in- 
terest whatever, until, enlivened by the warmth, the new comer 
began to move about, then it was evidently somewhat disturbed 
and kept to its own side of the box, and the stranger on coming 
to life enough to realize the presence of its fellow did likewise. 
Thus for a day or two they were exceedingly shy of each other, 
but in the course of a week their fear wore away and they were 
Peaceable companions enough, but this amicable arrangement 
Promised to end suddenly, as I thought, at one time, for while I 
Was watching them they ran toward each other ; as they met, rising 
on their hind legs, with the fore legs of each resting on the other’s 
head and body, with jaws widely distended, they appeared as if 
