The Life of Spiders 



which they are found in or near the webs of the females. The 

 approach of the male to the female is made with great care; for 

 if the female is not ready to receive his advances, she is apt to 

 pounce upon him and destroy him. 



In the case of the jumping spiders, Attida?, the courting 

 habits are very remarkable. The males, of some species at 

 least, dance before the females, and display their bright colours in 

 a way that is evidently intended to attract the attention of 

 the female. This has been described in detail by Mr. and Mrs. 

 Peckham ('89 and '90). 



X.— THE MOTHERHOOD OF SPIDERS 



Among the more interesting details in the life of spiders is 

 the provision made by the females for the care of their young. 

 Here as elsewhere in the economy of these creatures we find 



variety, the methods employed by one 

 differing greatly from those employed by 

 another. There is, however, within the 

 limits of each of the families a considerable 

 degree of uniformity in the plan adopted, 

 although each species has its own way of 

 carrying out this plan. 



The first step is the care of the eggs. 

 These are never laid singly, as is the case 

 with many insects, but are invariably laid 

 in one or more masses; and each mass is 

 protected by a covering of silk, the egg-sac 

 or cocoon. 



Most spiders deposit all their eggs at one 

 laying and enclose them in a single egg-sac; 

 but in certain species the egg-laying is ex- 

 tended over a considerable period of time and 

 a series of egg-sacs is formed. This is true 

 of Metepeira labyrinthea and of the species of Cyclosa (Fig. 196). 

 The egg-sac is not merely a covering made in a haphazard 

 way; but is a more or less elaborate structure, made in a definite 

 manner characteristic of the species; it is frequently as easy to 

 recognize the species from a study of the egg-sac as it is from a 

 study of the spider herself. 



208 



Fig. 106. EGG-SACS 

 OF CYCLOSA BIFURCA 



