94 The Structure and Habits of Spiders. 



charge-tube of the palpal organ of the male of 

 the same spider, Fig. 48. 



4 



Fig. 51. 



USE OF THE PALPAL ORGANS AND EPIGYNUM. 



When the reproductive cells of the male 

 spider are mature, he discharges the liquid con- 

 taining them on a little web spun for the pur- 

 pose ; dips his palpal organs into it, and in a 

 few moments takes up the whole, it is sup- 

 posed, into the little sacs, Figs. 47, 48, inside 

 the bulb ; then he seeks the female, and inserts 

 the palpal organs into her epigynum. The soft 

 part at the base of the organ swells up, and 

 presses in the discharge-tube, and probab]y 

 forces out the contents of the bulb into the 

 spermathecae, E, E, from which it escapes, in 



