THE YOUNG 



NATUEALTST. 



87 



so to speak, of a mere bag, which by its 

 contractions and dilations sends the haemal 

 fluid into the interstices of the tissues. 

 Along the sides of the body a series of bags 

 formed by involutions of the integument 

 occur. These are well supplied with blood- 

 vessels, and communicate with the atmos- 

 phere by distinct apertures called stigmata. 

 They are very closely pressed together, so 

 as to resemble the leaves of a book ; and 

 being lung-like are called pulmonary sacs, 

 or tracheal lungs. Respiration takes place 

 solely by means of these organs, and the 

 name Pulmotrachearia has been applied to 

 this order on account of respiration taking 

 place by a combination of pulmonary sacs 

 and tracheae. 



The nervous system consists of a chain of 

 ganglia similar to that found in insects. 

 There is a large ganglion called the cephalic 

 ganglion placed just above the oesophagus 

 and another in the thorax. Numerous 

 smaller ganglia also exist in the abdomen. 



The eyes, usually eight in number, are 

 situated on the forehead, and are generally 

 arranged into two rows. Spiders are ovi- 

 parous, and deposit their eggs in beautiful 

 silken cocoons, which are usually carried 

 about by the female. 



Before leaving my subject I must give, to 

 make it complete, directions as to spider 

 preservation : — Cut open the abdomen along 

 its ventral surface with a pair of fine scissors 

 and repaove the contents bit by bit until 

 you can see the brilliant colour shining 

 through what remains in the cavity ; then 

 with a blowpipe distend the abdomen and 

 fasten up with coaguline. If desirable to be 

 preserved in fluid, the following one of my 

 own invention will serve admirably : — 

 Williams' Preservative Solution. 



Water, 2 qts. ; corrosive sublimate, i dr. ; 

 sal, ammoniac, loz.; saltpetre, 20Z.; spirits 

 of wine, i pt.; glycerine, 2 oz. Mix; let 

 stand for two days, and filter. Keep in 

 stoppered bottles. 



Mitton, Stourpoi't, F^rmryi 1883. 



NOTES ON COLEOPTERA, 

 FOR BEGINNERS. 



By Dr. J. W. Ellis and Mr. Smedley, 

 Liverpool. 



The Feronid^ are easily divisible Into 

 two groups : 

 a — Anterior tarsi of male with three 



joints dilated. 

 h. — Anterior tarsi of male with two joints 



dilated. 



Group d. 



Antennas with the first six joints furnished 



with long bristles Loricera. 



Antennae without long bristles. 



Thorax joined to elytra by a distinct neck : 



Size f inch Broscus. 



Size ^ inch Mixodera. 



Thorax not joined to elytra by a distinct 

 neck. 



A. Colour of elytra red or yellow, with 

 black markings, or black with a yellow 

 margin. 



Elytra pale yellow, with black markings. . 



CaUistus, 



Elytra reddish ijellmv, with black mark- 

 ings, or dark with reddish spots on 

 margin Baduter. 



B. Colour of elytra not as A. 



Thorax as wide behind as the base of the 

 elytra : 



Size over i inch — 

 Dull black and very convex . . . .Zabrus, 



Shining black and flattened 



Pterostichus striola. 



Size under \ inch Oodes^ Calaihus 



(part), and Amara (part). 



Oodes is distinguished from Amara which 

 it much resembles, by its parallel elytra, 

 dull black colour, and smooth thorax. 



Calathus is longer, the thorax with the 

 sides nearly straight, legs long, the hinder 

 tarsi with distinct groove, and pitchy black 

 or reddish in colour. 



