The Narbonne Lycosa: The Family 



terfere, the good-natured dry-nurse sometimes 

 burdens herself with a supplementary family; 

 it would also be interesting to learn what 

 comes of this association of lawful offspring 

 and strangers. I have ample materials where- 

 with to obtain an answer to both questions. I 

 have housed in the same cage two elderly 

 matrons laden with youngsters. Each has her 

 home as far removed from the other as the 

 size of the common pan permits. The distance 

 is nine inches or more. It is not enough. Prox- 

 imity soon kindles fierce jealousies between 

 those intolerant creatures, who are obliged to 

 live far apart, so as to secure adequate hunt- 

 ing-grounds. 



One morning, I catch the two harridans 

 fighting out their quarrel on the floor. The 

 loser is laid flat upon her back; the victress, 

 belly to belly with her adversary, clutches her 

 with her legs and prevents her from moving a 

 limb. Both have their poison-fangs wide open, 

 ready to bite without yet daring, so mutually 

 formidable are they. After a certain period 

 of waiting, during which the pair merely ex- 

 change threats, the stronger of the two, the 

 one on top closes her lethal engine and grinds 

 the head of the prostrate foe. Then she 



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