The Life of the Spider 



calmly devours the deceased by small mouth- 

 fuls. 



Now what do the youngsters do, while their 

 mother is being eaten? Easily consoled, heed- 

 less of the atrocious scene, they climb on the 

 conqueror's back and quietly take their places 

 among the lawful family. The ogress raises 

 no objection, accepts them as her own. She 

 makes a meal off the mother and adopts the 

 orphans. 



Let us add that, for many months yet, until 

 the final emancipation comes, she will carry 

 them without drawing any distinction between 

 them and her own young. Henceforth, the 

 two families, united in so tragic a fashion, will 

 form but one. We see how greatly out of 

 place it would be to speak, in this connection, 

 of mother-love and its fond manifestations. 



Does the Lycosa at least feed the young- 

 lings who, for seven months, swarm upon her 

 back? Does she invite them to the banquet 

 when she has secured a prize? I thought so 

 at first; and, anxious to assist at the family re- 

 past, I devoted special attention to watching 

 the mothers eat. As a rule the prey 

 is consumed out of sight, in the bur- 

 row; but sometimes also a meal is taken 



162 



