112 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
much diversity of form, colour and con- 
sistency, and are placed in various situa- 
tions, according to the economy of the 
species by which they are fabricated. 
Many spiders abandon their cocoons as 
soon as they are completed ; others mani- 
fest great attachment to them, watching 
over them with the utmost solicitude ; 
and some, connecting them with the 
spinners by silken lines, or grasping them 
with the falces and palpi, transport them 
wherever they move. In numerous in- 
stances the eggs are agglutiuated together 
into a compact mass ; in others they are 
united by filaments of silk; and not uu- 
frequently they are entirely free or uncon- 
nected. Their figure is either spherical or 
somewhat elliptical ; and their predomi- 
nant colours are yellowish white, yellow, 
orange-yellow, brown and pink. Several 
sets of prolific eggs are frequently laid in 
succession, an interval of many months 
occasionally intervening between the ex- 
tramission of two consecutive sets, by 
females which have not associated with 
males of their species after they have de- 
posited the first set; but eggs produced 
without sexual intercourse are always 
sterile. For a knowledge of the various 
changes which take place in the ova of 
spiders previously to the extrusion of the 
young we are indebted to M. Herold, 
whose highly interesting and important 
observations may be consulted with ad- 
vantage by physiologists. The exterior 
covering of the egg consists of a very 
delicate membrane, in whose composition 
no pore or fibre has been perceived. 
Within this membrane there is a liquid in 
which several essential parts may be dis- 
tinguished corresponding to the vitellus, 
the albumen, and the cicatricula in the 
eggs of birds. 
“ On the disengagement of young 
spiders from the egg, every part is en- 
closed in a membranous envelope; they 
are embarrassed in their movements, are 
unable to spin or to seize their prey, and 
seem to be indisposed to action. For 
the unrestrained exercise of these func- 
tions it is requisite that they should 
extricate themselves from the covering 
which impedes them ; and this operation, 
or, as it may be termed, their first moult, 
occurs after a period whose duration is 
regulated principally by the temperature 
and moisture of the atmosphere. The 
moult invariably takes place in the co- 
coon or general envelope of the eggs, 
and the young spiders do not quit this 
common nest till the weather is mild and 
genial. They then commonly disperse, 
but the young of some species continue 
to live together for a considerable time, 
and in many instances are supplied with 
sustenance by the mother. On deserting 
the cocoon the Lycosce attach themselves 
to the body of the parent, who carries 
them with her till they are able to pro- 
vide for themselves. 
(To be continued.) 
S YNONYMIC LTST of BRITISH 
LEPIDOPTERA, for interchange 
amongst Collectors. Part II. is now 
ready. Price Is. 6d. per dozen (post 
free). 
SYNONYMIC LISTS to the end of 
the Noctuae, may still be had on applica- 
tion. Price Is. 3d. per dozen, or 4s. 6d. 
for 50 (post free). 
H. T. Stainton. 
Mountsjield, Lewisham, S.E. 
Complete in Two Vols.,fcp. 8 vo, cloth , 
price 10s., 
A MANUAL of BRITISH BUT- 
TERFLIES and MOTHS. By 
H. T. Stainton. 
This work contains descriptions of 
nearly 2000 species, interspersed with 
observations on their peculiarities and 
imes of appearance, &c., and is illus- 
rated with more than 200 woodcuts. 
London ; John Van Voorst, 1, Pater- 
noster Row. 
Printed and published by Edward Newman, 
Printer, of No. 9, Devonshire Street, Bishops- 
pate Without, London, in the County of 
Middlesex.— Saturday, January 5, 1861. 
