184 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATUIIL. 
Von Martens (Preuss. Exped. nach Ost-Asien, Zool. p. 12) briefly notices 
the occurrence of Spiders in Madeira, and states that Scorpions were neither 
seen nor heard of there by him. No Scorpions occur in Japan (1. c. p. 136). 
ARANEIDA. 
Blackwall publishes some observations on the presence of 
teeth and spines on the falces and maxillaj of Spiders (Ann. & 
Mag. Nat. Hist. 3rd ser. xix. pp. 258-259). He remarks that 
the so-called teeth on the margins of the groove on the basal 
joint of the falces in which the terminal joint is received cannot 
be regarded as true teeth, as those organs are employed only 
in seizing prey, and adds that such processes occur on the 
falces of the Mygalid(B, where their presence has been denied 
by some authors. Blackwall also states that the minute spines 
described by Miss Staveley on the maxillae of certain Spiders may 
assist in the retention of insects, but cannot act efficiently as a 
masticatory apparatus ; he describes certain spines irregularly 
grouped on the maxillae and the apex of the lip of some Myga- 
lid(B which may serve for a similar purpose, and also indicates 
the presence in Mygale zebra of a group of spines on the upper 
surface of the maxillae which appear to be organs of mastication. 
The maxilla and lip of Mygale ursina are represented (pi. 9. 
figs. 1, 2), and the maxilla of M, zebra (pi. 9. fig. 3). 
Ausserer (Zeitschr. des Ferdinand. Folge, xiii. pp. 181-209) publishes 
an account of the habits and development of the Araneida, in which he de- 
scribes the general mode of life of these animals, and treats of their repro- 
duction and development. lie discusses the means by which Spiders are able 
to emit a thread which may serve them as a bridge, describes the construc- 
tion of the geometrical nets in some detail, and notices the process by which 
Spiders are enabled to ascend into the air. From his own observations he 
.seems inclined to think that the aerial excursions are chiefly performed by 
males. The author describes in considerable detail the act of copulation in 
several species, especially Dictyna beniyna (Walck.) and Linyphia trianyu- 
laris (Clerck), in both of which he observed the emission of the semen 
from the abdominal genital orifice of the male upon the threads of the net 
and its subsequent absorption by the palpal organs. He also notices a pecu- 
liar action in the male of Epeira diadema, which he regards as preparatory to 
the true copulation. Ausserer also notices the habits of those species which 
carry their eggs about with them either with or without a cocoon, and at 
the close of his paper furnishes a tabular synopsis of the various modes in 
which this is effected by the Tyrolese Spiders. 
F. Terby publishes (Bull. Acad. Sci. Belg. xxiii. pp. 274-298) an account, 
illustrated with figures, of his observations upon the mode in which floating- 
threads are projected by Spiders. lie describes cases in which a single thread 
is emitted under the influence of a current of air, and finds that this is ter- 
minated at its free extremity by a set of branched filaments. In other in- 
stances the Spiders produce a partially double thread, one portion of which 
is then carried out in a loop by the current of air. These different processes 
