58 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



themselves, and remain quiet for a week in the little nest thus formed. 

 During this time every spider that approached was driven away. The 

 males went out occasionally for food, but were not seen to carry 

 Tendmg jj^ .^^y f^^. ^j^gjj. mates. At the end of a week one of the males 

 Females ^^^ observed to be pairing with his female, which had moulted 

 and was now mature. Successive observations showed that this 

 marital seclusion of young females was not an accidental result of artificial 

 conditions, but is a fixed habit of the males. It must be acknowledged 

 that it displays a remarka])le degree of foresight and thoughtfulness — the 

 immediate product, no doubt, of the emotional conditions of courtship. 



In all these various movements the position of the female of most 

 species was simply one of watching. She followed the movements of her 

 dancing partner, evidently with keen interest ; sometimes took 

 The Pe- herself out of the way, but ordinarily was quite attentive until 

 escent ^^^^ entire rejection of the suit or the acceptance of the suitor. 

 Two species formed striking exceptions to this rule, as far as 

 the attitude is concerned. In one, the female lay close to the ground 

 with her first legs directed forward and upward, while her second legs 

 were held on the ground and stretched forward in front of her face. In 

 another species, Marptusa familiaris, a similar attitude was assumed by 

 the female, who lay on the ground with all the legs flattened out and 

 the i)alps slightly raised, the only movement visible being the vibration 

 of the palps. (See Fig. 25.) 



The attitudes of the males were far more varied. A reference to the 

 details of the notes as given will show that at least seven characteristic 



attitudes are assumed, namely : — 

 Sum- First, the legs of one side are bent over, doubled under, 



Aii. ■>. J and so kejit while the male engages in his semicircular dance, 

 of Males. (Saitis pulex.) 



Second, the body is well elevated, the abdomen lifted verti- 

 cally, all the legs upraised and stretched out, and the entire eight legs 

 touch the ground- during the dance. (Synagales picata.) 



Third, the male, like the two females referred to above, lies flat on his 

 venter, keeping the tips of the fore legs touch- 

 ing (Icius) ; or the male lies flat, wriggling his 

 abdomen and frequently turning from side to side, 

 his legs held up over his head, slightly diverging, 

 and often twisted, waved, or turned about. (Zygo- 

 ballus bettini.) (See Fig. 34.) 



Fourth, the two front pairs of legs are stretched 



Fig. 34. Position of male Zygo- 



baiius bettini approaching fe- Qut ill a Straight line from the cephalothorax, 



male. (After Peckham.) i -i i • • i -it 



wliile the remaining legs are raised and curved 

 and used for moving the body forward in its whirling dance. (Marptusa 

 familiaris.) 



