])r. Leach’s Arrangement of the Crustacea, ^c. 
393 
Fam. III. Araneides, Latr^ 
Oculi sex aut octo. Anus papillis texoriis. 
Araneides. Latr., Walck. 
For the genera of this family see Latreilles Genera Crustaceorum 
et Tnsectorum I and his ConsidSrations GinSrales sur I’Ordre Natu- 
rel des Crustacis, ^c. 
Having been favoured with some very valuable and highly in- 
teresting remarks on the growth of the legs of a species of this 
family, by that learned and indefatigable naturalist Sir Joseph 
Banks, 1 take this opportunity of communicating them to the 
public. 
As Sir J. Banks was writing at Spring Grove, on the 2d of Sep- 
tember, one of the web-spinning species, of more than the middle 
size, passed over some papers on the table, holding a hy in its 
mouth. Much surprised to see a spider of this description walk- 
ing about with its prey, and struck with somewhat unusual in the 
gait of the animal, he caught it, and placed it in a glass for exa- 
mination ; when instead of eight, he perceived that it had but 
three legs, which accounted for the inability of the creature to 
spin its web. But the curious circumstance of its having changed 
its usual (Economy, and having become a hunting instead of a 
spinning one, as well as a wish to learn whether its legs would be 
renewed, induced him to keep the animal in the glass, from 
whence it could not escape, and to observe its conduct 
On the following morning the animal ate two flies given to it, 
by sucking out the juices, but left the carcases whole. Two or 
three days after it devoured the body and head of a fly, leaving 
only the wings and legs. After this time it sometimes sucked and 
sometimes ate the fly given it. 'I'his probably depended on the 
state 
