136 DRASSIDÆ.
base upwards, and are of a dark, reddish-brown colour, the central and most prominent part
having a pale, reddish-brown tint.
Argyroneta aquatica habitually passes the greater part of its life in the water, not only
pursuing its prey in that liquid, but constructing beneath its surface & dome-shaped cell, in
which is placed its cocoon of white silk, of a compact texture and lenticular form, containing
from eighty to a hundred spherical eggs, of a yellow colour, not agglutinated together. This
cell is supported in a vertical position, the open part being directed downwards, by lines of
silk connecting it with aquatic plants, and as it comprises a considerable quantity of atmospheric
air, the spider can at all times occupy it without experiencing the least inconvenience.
In swimming and diving Argyroneta aquatica assumes an inverted position, and is more or less
enveloped in air confined by the circumambient water among the hairs with which it is
clothed, the supply being always more abundant on the under than on the upper part, in consequence
of the greater length and density of the hairs distributed over its surface.
This species is found in pools and ditches in various parts of England. It is of frequent
occurrence in the fens of Cambridgeshire, from which locality a pair was transported to
Crumpsall Hall, neat Manchester, in the summer of 1833; each individual was inclosed in a
small, tin box, and neither of them appeared to suffer materially from the confinement. After
a lapse of ten days, during which period they were without water, these spiders were conveyed
to Oakland, in Denbighshire, where they arrived in perfect health. One of them, on being
placed m a large goblet more than half filled with water, speedily formed a dome-shaped cell
beneath the surface, 'attaching it to the side of the glass by means of numerous silken lines,
and being well supplied with insects, it lived in this State of captivity till the 'Commencement
of winter, when, on the temperature of the room in Avhich it was kept becoming much
reduced, it entered the cell and remained there In a state of torpidity, with its head downwards.
A gentleman on a visit at the house, whose curiosity to examine the spider minutely
in its hybernaculum was greater than his prudence, inclined the glass so much that the air
escaped from the cell, the water flowed in, and before information of the circumstance was
given, the dormant inmate had perished.
The aquatic habits of this species have induced M. Walckenaer to constitute with it a
distinct family; but upon the same principle, Lycosapiratica and Dolomedesfimbriatus might
be separated from the Lycosida, as they descend spontaneously into water and perform the
function of respiration in that situation precisely in the same manner as Argyroneta aquatica
does; yet the position, which in conformity with their organization they so consistently occupy
in the systematic arrangement of the Araneidea, has not been disturbed. Regard being had
to these considerations and to the relations of affinity predominant in the structure and
economy of Argyroneta aquatica, it has been deemed expedient to transfer it to the family
Drassida.
Mr. R. Templeton states that Argyroneta aquatica abounds in the neighbourhood of
IiUrgan, in Ireland.
139
Family CINIFLGNIDÆ.
All the spiders of this small family,, at present known, are natives of Europe, Upper
Canada, Madeira, or South America; they have the falces articulated vertically, and two
branchial opercula occupy the usual situation on the inferior surface of the abdomen, which is
terminated by eight spinners; those constituting the inferior pair are the shortest, and consist
of a single joint each; they are united throughout their entire length, and their fio-ure is
somewhat conical, but compressed and truncated, so that the base and apex are elliptical,
with long transverse axes. The tarsi are triungulate, and the metatarsus of each posterior
leg is provided with a calamistrura or curling apparatus, composed of two parallel rows of
short, close-set, moveable spines, employed by these spiders in -the construction of their
snares*
Crevices in rocks, walls, and the bark of trees, the inside of buildings, and the foliage of
shrubs and plants, are the situations usually selected by the Ciniflonidce for their retreats, and
contiguous to them they fabricate their highly complicated and curious toils, comprising
numerous tortuous filaments curled by an elaborate process, in which the calamistra perform
an important part.
Genus CINIFLO (Blackmail).
Eyes disposed in two transverse rows on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax ; the
intermediate ones of both rows are sessile, and describe a trapezoid whose anterior side is the
shortest, and each lateral pair is seated obliquely on a tubercle.
M axilla long, enlarged, and rounded at the extremity, and somewhat inclined towards
the lip.
L ip rather longer than broad, dilated about the middle, and truncated at the extremity.
Legs robust ; the first pair is the longest, then the fourth, and the third pair is the
shortest.