SCHEFFER : COCOONING HABITS OF SPIDERS. 105 



Family LYCOSIDiE. 



The Wolf spiders are represented in temperate North America 

 principally by the two genera, Lycosa and Pardosa. Many species 

 of both frequent the water exclusively, hiding under stones 

 along the shores of creeks. No other group presents so many 

 interesting phases of the subject under discussion in this paper. 

 All the Lycosidse, without exception, carry their cocoons sus- 

 pended from the spinnerets by a few threads of silk. The larger 

 species, when the duties of maternity devolve upon them, be- 

 come more sedentary than at other times, cease to rove about, 

 and usually excavate a shallow hole or burrow under a rock for 

 a temporary nursery. This retreat they line with silk, and 

 there they remain for a season, rarely leaving home except to 

 capture food near by. The smaller species, on the other hand, 

 wander about as usual, dragging their cocoon with them on the 

 chase. They make no retreat of any kind, and use their silk 

 only for enclosing the eggs. 



When the young lycosids hatch they climb upon the body of 

 their mother, clinging fast on all sides by means of tiny threads 

 which they stretch among the hairs. Thus encumbered the 

 female presents an odd appearance, as though she had increased 

 in bulk to twice her ordinary size. The young remain with her 

 for perhaps two weeks, at least until after the second moult. 

 If she be disturbed by an observer the spiderlings scatter in all 

 directions. 



The cocoons of the species of Lycosa are nearly globular, those 

 of the Pardosfe more flattened. In either case they consist of 

 two valves united by a suture, forming a belt of finer tissue, 

 which, in the latter group, is usually quite conspicuous, being 

 lighter colored. Along this zone the two valves separate when 

 the young hatch. The mother is said to aid their egress by bit- 

 ing the threads. Maternal solicitude is very evident in the 

 care bestowed upon the cocoon while the eggs are yet un- 

 hatched. If this precious sack be torn from the mother, she 

 will rush about frantically in search of it, and when she finds 

 it again will eagerly grasp it and make off for a place of safety. 

 After a time, if undisturbed, she will again attach it to her 

 spinnerets. 



