394 Dr. Leaches Arrangement of the Crustacea^ <^c. 
state of the fly. At first it consumed two flies in a day, afterwards 
not more than one in two days. Its excrement, wliich it voided 
from the extremity of the abdomen, Avas at first of a milky-white 
colour; but afterwards the Avhite had a black spot in the centre, 
of a more solid appearance than the surrounding fluid. 
Soon after its confinement it attempted to form a Aveb on the 
side of the vessel, -but performed the business very slowly and 
clumsily, from the want of the proper number of legs. In about a 
fortnight it had completed a very small Aveb, upon Avhich it gene- 
rally sat. 
A month after having been caught, it shed its skin, leaving the 
slough hanging on the web. After this change five new legs ap- 
peared, not half as long as the other three legs, and of very little 
use to the animal in walking. These new members, however, ex- 
tended themselves a little in about three days, and became half 
as long as the old ones ; the Aveb was now' increased, and the ani- 
mal continued almost immoveably sitting upon it in the day- 
time, unless drawn from it or attracted by a fly thrown to it as 
its usual provision. 
Twenty-nine days afterwards it again lost its skin, leaving the 
slough hanging in the Aveb, in front of a hollow cell it had woven 
so as to prevent it from being completely seen when lodged in it : 
the legs Avere noAv longer than before the change of skin, and 
they grew somewhat longer still in three or four days, but did 
not attain the size of the old legs. 
The animal noAV inci’eased its web, and, being put into a small 
bowl as a more commodious residence, soon renewed a better 
Aveb than the first. In this state it was left on the 1st of Novem- 
ber, in the hope of being found alive in the next summer, Avhen 
flies re-appear, and being subjected to further observations. 
On observing this animal, it appeared to this acute naturalist, 
that 
