The Narbonne Lycosa: The Family 



on the threshold, in the open air. Besides, it 

 is easy to rear the Lycosa and her family in a 

 wire-gauze cage, with a layer of earth where- 

 in the captive will never dream of sinking 

 a well, such work being out of season. Every- 

 thing then happens out of doors. 



Well, while the mother munches, chews, ex- 

 presses the juices and swallows, the youngsters 

 do not budge from their camping-ground on 

 her back. Not one quits its place nor gives 

 a sign of wishing to slip down and join in 

 the meal. Nor does the mother extend an 

 invitation to them to come and recruit them- 

 selves, nor put any broken victuals aside for 

 them. She feeds and the others look on, or 

 rather remain indifferent to what is happen- 

 ing. Their perfect quiet during the Lycosa's 

 feast points to the possession of a stomach 

 that knows no cravings. 



Then with what are they sustained, during 

 their seven months' upbringing on the moth- 

 er's back? One conceives a notion of exuda- 

 tions supplied by the bearer's body, in which 

 case the young would feed on their mother, 

 after the manner of parasitic vermin, and 

 gradually drain her strength. 



We must abandon this notion. Never are 



163 



