THE SPINNING SISTERHOOD. 825 



dent, for, on seeing it held out again, she tried once more to take 

 it. This time her tormentor let her get hold, and then drew it 

 away. Even this she forgave, doubtless finding it hard to believe 

 that her friend had become her enemy. But when he tried it a 

 third time, the " last link was broken," the friendship at an 

 end. She could not trust him, and the most tempting fly and the 

 loudest buzzing appealed to her in vain. She refused to go near 

 it, and in a day or two she deliberately abandoned her home and 

 departed for parts unknown, probably soured for life. 



Curious and unexpected traits of character were shown in 

 captivity by two of the Lycosas, or running spiders, among 

 whom according to popular notions are some of the most ter- 

 rible of the race. The account appeared in a scientific magazine 

 some time ago. The first member of the happy family was living 

 contentedly in a large cigar-box with a cover of glass, accepting 

 gratefully the fare provided, and becoming quite tame, when a 

 second one was captured and placed in the same box, and the 

 owner sat down to see one eat the other, the legitimate result, as 

 he supposed, of his act. Nothing of the sort happened ; on the 

 contrary, the two seemed shy of making acquaintance. For two 

 or three days each spider stayed on her own side of the box and 

 made no advances, either of war or friendship, but in a week their 

 reserve wore off and they became the best of friends. Together 

 they ran when a fly was offered, side by side they drank from the 

 little pool of water provided for them, and each amiably waited 

 her turn to drink when water was given in a brush. Under this 

 delightful and unheard-of state of things, having plenty of food 

 and none of the work that makes the life of freedom a stern 

 reality, they actually grew frolicsome. They chased each other 

 around the box, playfully as two kittens ; they retired to opposite 

 corners, and then ran at each other with mouths open as if about 

 to clinch for a fight, which the observer confidently expected to 

 see. But on meeting each rose, stood erect on her hind feet, and 

 laid her fore feet gently upon the head and body of her friend. 

 Then, just as the astonished spectator looked to see them start off 

 in a waltz, they dropped to their eight feet, ran back to their cor- 

 ners, and repeated the queer performance. This was a favorite 

 amusement, with which they varied the semi-serious business of 

 hunting flies within their small domain. They were exceedingly 

 neat in their toilet, and after each meal every part of the body 

 and legs was rubbed and brushed, in systematic order, and the 

 minute heap of dust resulting carefully thrown away. 



It may be thought that their refusal to justify the popular 

 notion, and eat or be eaten, was because of their equal size or 

 their close relationship. To test this, their keeper introduced 

 within their box a common house spider, much smaller in size, 



