INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 



that the colours and markings ofton depend on the hairs, and 

 hairy pubescence with which the cephalo-thorax and abdomen 

 are frequently clothed, and which always show sad traces of 

 destruction after contact with the fingers. The only spiders that 

 may be caught without much dangor of injury in this way are 

 the very minute ones (especially of tho genera Ntridne and 

 Walchnaera) upon which the wetted forefinger may bo lightly 

 placed ; the moisture causes them to adhere to the finger long 

 enough for immersion in the small phial of spirit of wine carried 

 in the waistcoat pocket. Spiders may be boxed (separately of 

 course) in small pill boxes ; a drop of chloroform stupifies them, 

 and they can then be examined, and rejected if not wanted, or 

 at once plaoed in the spirit phial, if required for the collection ; 

 but the most convenient method of capturing a spider is to placo 

 over it an empty test tube (one of % to $- of an inch in diameter and 3 

 inches long is a good goneral size for most British spiders) ; the 

 spider instantly runs up the tube (or may be made to do so), tho 

 fore-finger than closes the mouth temporarily, and on inversion of 

 the tube over the open mouth of tho spirit phial, the spider drops 

 down at once, and the matter is concluded. Ordinary methylated 

 spirit is the best fluid for both killing and preserving spiders ; 

 but for the latter purpose (as the spirit is usually about 50 or 60 

 degrees above proof) it should be diluted with about one-fifth 

 or one-sixth part of distilled water, otherwise it is apt, after a 

 time, to corrugate the integument of small and delicate spiders. 



Those spiders which are found running or jumping about on 

 the ground, or on walls or trunks of trees can be easily caught 

 thus, by means of a test tube, with a very little practice ; for 

 othors, which frequent low herbage, a sweeping net (such as 

 those used by Entomologists) must bo employed ; and for those 

 which live on bushes or boughs of trees, there is nothing better 

 than a very large umbrella into which the boughs may be beaten ; 

 and, whether in the net or umbrella, the pill-box or tube will have 

 to be employed for tho transfer of the spiders to the spirit bottle. 

 When the day's collecting is done tho contents of this bottle 

 must be separated into tubes of different sizes, according to 



