CHAPTER III 



THE NARBONNE LYCOSA 



THE Epeira, who displays such aston- 

 ishing industry to give her eggs a 

 dwelling-house of incomparable perfection, 

 becomes, after that, careless of her family. 

 For what reason ? She lacks the time. She 

 has to die when the first cold comes, whereas 

 the eggs are destined to pass the winter in 

 their downy snuggery. The desertion of the 

 nest is inevitable, owing to the very force of 

 things. But, if the hatching were earlier and 

 took place in the Epeira's lifetime, I imagine 

 that she would rival the bird in devotion. 



So I gather from the analogy of Thomisus 

 oniistus, Walck., a shapely Spider who 

 weaves no web, lies in wait for her prey and 

 walks sideways, after the manner of the Crab. 

 I have spoken elsewhere 1 of her encounters 

 with the Domestic Bee, whom she jugulates 

 by biting her in the neck. 



'In Chapter VIII. of the present volume. — Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



105 



