x] JUMPING SPIDERS 81 



the wolf-spider runs it down by sheer strength and 

 speed, but the jumping spider stalks it like a Red 

 Indian. 



The actions of the spider make it quite evident 

 that its power of sight is well developed. Mr and 

 Mrs Peckham, whose remarkable observations on the 

 mating habits of jumping spiders must presently be 

 considered, established friendly relations with some 

 of their captives which became so tame as to jump 

 on their hands and take food from their fingers. 

 They frequently induced them to jump from a finger 

 of one hand to one of the other, gradually increasing 

 the distance up to eight inches. They also twice 

 observed a male chasing a female upon a table 

 covered with jars, books and boxes. "The female 

 would leap rapidly from one object to another, or 

 would dart over the edge of a book or a box so as to 

 be out of sight. In this position she would remain 

 quiet for a few moments and then, creeping to the 

 edge, would peer over to see if the male were still 

 pursuing her. If he happened not to be hidden, she 

 would seem to see him, even when ten or twelve 

 inches away, and would quickly draw back." 



Moreover that they have the ability to discriminate 

 colours has been shown by their behaviour when 

 imprisoned in cages consisting of a series of com- 

 municating chambers each with a glass top of a 

 different hue. They show a marked preference for 



w. s. 6 



