NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
287 
by other spiders. The metatarsus of the posterior leg is provided with 
a peculiar apparatus, the calamistrum, which is used in connection with 
the extra pair of spinners in forming the curious and beautiful curled 
web. This spider generally selects the old flower head of the common 
heath, C. vulgaris , in which, or upon which, she proceeds to spin her 
web, first running a number of plain threads from the top and central 
twig to those which spring about half an inch below, until she has 
formed a tent-like structure. When this is finished she spins a few 
plain threads from these side twigs to the central stem below, generally 
about three-quarters to one inch long, sometimes longer, and if another 
twig is near she runs out a line to it. The web is now somewhat of an 
elongated diamond shape, much like the purse nets used by fishermen, 
but so far it is only a covering and habitation for the owner. The most 
important and wonderful part of the structure next occupies her atten¬ 
tion—viz., the spinning of the curled webs, without which no flies 
could be snared. After a great many watchings, at last I was 
rewarded by seeing one commence the curling operation. Taking up 
her position, head downwards, on one of the threads running from a 
side twig to the central stem, she slightly raised her abdomen, bending 
the posterior pair of legs until the claws apparently touched the 
spinners. She then moved them rapidly to and from the abdomen 
some twelve or fifteen times, then resting a moment, she attached 
something to one of the plain threads, moved on and down the 
diagonal thread a very short distance, then repeated the rapid 
movements, rested again, moved a little to one side, fixing something 
to the thread running parallel to the one she was on. I very carefully 
brought my magnifier to bear, and then saw that whilst making the 
rapid movements she had been (no doubt using the calamistra) 
tearing, so to speak, her silk from her spinnerets, and by the short 
movements of the legs made the wonderful curled and double thread 
which, after each rest, she attached first to one side then to the other 
of the parallel plain threads, thus covering the threads from the side 
twigs to the central stem, and a few to the top with a zigzag of this 
pale blue curled web, and this again was surrounded by the most 
extraordinary thread of some sort, which looked exactly like a delicate 
vapour around it, and in which the unlucky flies were soon caught, * 
neatly spun up in a silken shroud, carried up into the diamond 
chamber, and after having satisfied the hunger of the neatest “curler” 
ever known, their wings and legs are hung up outside as ornaments, 
and very beautiful they look when the sun is upon them. The male is 
found after dark rapping with his palpi in the most comical manner 
against the outside of the chamber, and if his wooing is acceptable he 
is admitted, but if not, the sooner he drops his strumming him¬ 
self the better, for the lady is not against feeding upon her species 
when necessity compels. She lays her eggs in several small 
cocoons within the nest and carefully watches them until hatched.— 
F. Enock, Ferndale, Woking. 
Two New British Uredines.— ( Ecidium Convallarice, Schum. Spots 
pale yellow or whitish, circular, on various green parts of the host 
plant, leaves, stems, and perigones. Pseudoperidia cup-shaped, with 
broad, overhanging, split, whitish edges. Spores polygonal, orange 
yellow, slightly rough, 15-30 x 14-22 mk. On Gonvallaria majalis, near 
Scarborough; Mr. G. Massee, June, 1883. Windermere, Mr. Thomas 
Hebden, June, 1884. This interesting addition to our fl»ra was sent 
to me last year by Mr. Massee. It is figured by Mr. W. G. Smith in 
the Gardener's Chronicle for 5th July, 1884, p. 12-13, from Mr. Hebden’s 
