ix] WOLF-SPIDERS 73 



approached within leaping distance, it was pounced 

 upon with unfailing accuracy. 



In due season the captives laid their eggs and 

 enclosed them in the regulation cocoon which they 

 attached to their spinnerets, never parting from them 

 thenceforward, though considerably hampered by 

 them in their movements up and down the tube. 

 But a very remarkable change now took place in 

 their behaviour at the mouth of the tunnel. In 

 sunny weather, instead of remaining, as Fabre puts 

 it, " accoudtf' on the parapet, they reversed their 

 position, raised their egg-cocoons with their hind legs, 

 and slowly and deliberately turned them about, so 

 that every part in succession should be exposed to 

 the sun's rays. 



We now come to a remarkable habit possessed by 

 all the Lycosidae. When the young are ready 

 to leave the cocoon they find an exit at the thinner 

 equatorial seam, and proceed immediately to climb 

 on to the back of the mother, clinging firmly to her 

 covering of hairs. If a wanderer, she carries them 

 thus on all her expeditions ; if a stay-at-home, they 

 accompany her up and down her tube. They are 

 often dislodged indeed, when alarmed, they scatter 

 for the moment, but when the peril has passed they 

 immediately swarm up the maternal legs to their 

 former position. 



Now in the case of the tarantula, it is seven 



