54 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



(Fig. 29), that is, the body was thrown into a position at about an angle of 



forty-five degrees, the abdomen ahnost in the line with the ceplialothorax, 



but a little bent under at the apex, which nearly or 



quite touched the ground. The two hind pairs of 



legs were thrown outward from the body, the fourth 



or liindermost pair being well curved, the third or 



next pair somewhat bent, but more exteiid- 

 The Peck- 

 , ed. The second pair (next to the foremost) 



confirmed ^^'^^ quite extended in a line without much 



curvature, except towards the last two joints. 



The front legs were extended in a line somewhat 



-^&M 



Fig. 31. Love dance of Astia 



vittata. Male with front curvcd, and Well tlirowu upwErd above the head, and 



leg^in poise. (After Peck- ^j^g ^^.^j^^g^ ^^.j^j^^^ ^^.^ ,^j.^^j.^ ^.^^.^ StrCtched OUt iu a 



corresponding position, and continually rubbed one 

 upon the other in an excited manner. In this attitude the male moved 

 backward and forward with a lively sal- 

 tigrade movement, whirling around a little 

 as he leaped upward (Fig. 30) and brush- 

 ing the tips of his palps togetlrer in the 

 meanwhile. This was about all I was 

 permitted to see, but it at least confirms 

 in part what the Peckhams have so care- 

 fully recorded. 



The first male form, which corresj^ouds 



in appearance to the female, when he ajj- 



proaches his mate, raises his first 



ove jggg g^ ^j_|^^^ they point either :sZr4^ 



Astia forward or upward, keeping his 



palps stiffly outstretched, while 



the tip of his abdomen is bent to the 



ground. This position he commonly takes 



when three or four inches away. While 



he retains tliis attitude he keeps curving 



and waving his legs in a very curious manner. Frequently he raises only 



one of the legs of tlie first pair, running all the 

 time from side to side. As he draws nearer to 

 tlie female, he lowers his body to the ground and, 

 dropping liis legs also, places the two anterior 

 pairs so that the tips touch in front (Fig. o2), 

 the proximal joints being turned almost at an 

 dancing before female. (After angle to the body. Now he glides in a semicir- 

 ^^"^ ^™'' cle before the female, sometimes advancing, some- 



times receding, until at last she accepts his addresses. 



The Niger form is much the more lively of the two, and whenever the 



Fig. 32. Position of male Astia vittata when 

 approaching the female. Mnch enlarged. 

 (After Peckham.) 



Fig. 33. Male of Icius mitratus 



