94 The Structure and Habits of Spiders. 



charge-tube of the palpal organ of the male of 

 the same spider, Fig. 48. 



Fig. 51. 



USE OF THE PALPAL ORGANS AND EPIGYNUM. 



When the reproductive cells of the male 

 spider are mature, he discharges the liquid con- 

 taining them on a little web spun for the pur- 

 pose ; dips his palpal organs into it, and in a 

 few moments takes up the whole, it is sup- 

 posed, into the little sacs, Figs. 47, 48, inside 

 the bulb ; then he seeks the female, and inserts 

 the palpal organs into her epigynum. The soft 

 part at the base of the organ swells up, and 

 presses in the discharge -tube, and probably 

 forces out the contents of the bulb into the 

 spermathecae, E, E, from which it escapes, in 



