52 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



he stretched the first and second pah's of legs sidewise, but after a moment 

 backed away. These manoeuvres were repeated many times, the attitude 

 assumed during them being as represented by Fig. 25. Occasionally he 



would beiad the tip of the abdomen 

 down, lifting the body up on the 

 last joints of the two hindermost legs. 

 The female always paid the greatest 

 attention to his movements, lying on 

 the ground with all the legs flattened 



Fig. 25. Positions in courtship of Marptusa familiaris. and the palpi slightly raiscd, the 

 Male on the rierht hand. (After Peckham.) i „ i. ■ -i i i * j-i ^ , ; 



^ ' only movement visible being the vi- 



bration of the palps. There is a certain slowness and dignity about the 

 wooing of this species, almost ludicrous.^ 



The males of Dendryphantes capitatus approach the female rapidly, 

 until within two to five inches, when they stop and extend the legs di- 

 rectly forward close to the ground, the legs being sliglitly curved, with the 



tips turned up. This position serves admirably to 

 Showing expose the whole of the bronze and white face 

 Q J (Fig. 26) to the attentive female, who watches him 



closely from a little distance. As the wooer grows 

 more excited, he lies down on one side, with his legs still 

 extended. These antics are repeated for a very long time, 

 even for hours, before the female accepts his addresses. 



Tlie male of Habrocestum splendens is a magnificent fel- 

 low, having an abdomen of glowing pink, and bronze ceph- 

 alothorax tinted witli reddish brown. He began his addresses by advanc- 

 ing a few inches towards the female and then backing off again. 

 This movement was repeated many times. After awhile he set- 

 tled down under a little web in a corner. The female, troubled 

 by this indifferent treatment, advanced toward him, whereupon 

 he came out and she fell back. This play was kept up for some time, 



and at length the male began his courting in 

 earnest. When within a few inches of her, he 

 commenced a rapid dance from side to side, 

 raising the whole body high on the tips of the 

 legs, the first pair being directed forward, and 

 the palps clasped together, with the abdomen 

 turned to one side and lifted up. (Fig. 27.) 



After a short dance he stood motionless, 

 striking an attitude as shown in the figure, re- 

 maining quiet for half a minute. Then he turned his Ijack on the female, 

 moving, irregularly about with his legs forward and his palps vibrating. 



Fni. 26. Bronze 

 and white face 

 of Dendryphan- 

 tes. Male. (Af- 

 ter Peckham.) 



Habro- 

 cestum 

 splendens 



Fig.' 27. Male Saltigrade, Habroces- 

 tum splendens, when approaching 

 female. (After Peckham.) 



' Idem, page 44. 



