SOCIAL HABITS OF SPIDERS. 37 



are of a thick fibre, analagous to the cocoons of Argiope/ are rounded 

 upon one face, ahnost flat upon the other, and attached to the walls of 

 . the incubating chamber by a short pedicle. (Fig. 33.) M. Simon 



Bpeira ^^^ found many of these shells enclosing as high as ten cocoons, 

 and "five or six females sharing together the cares of maternity." 

 He did not know what might have transpired at the moment of hatching, but 

 thought it probable that the shell would be found at that time filled with 

 a large number of young Epeiras. He had received frona Quito another 

 species of the same genus, of which the societies ought to be more numer- 

 ous, if one may judge by the series of cocoons disposed in wreaths, which 

 had been sent to him. But the cocoons of this species are spherical, and 

 tied together by a loose wadding without being enclosed within a case. 



This last named feature is not uncommon, as may be seen by refer- 

 ence to my observations of cocooning habits.'^ There seems to be a de- 

 cided, and in some cases entire, suspension of pugnacity and 

 ug-na- ordinary appetite in the females at the time of ovipositing. So 

 pended intense are they upon discharging the functions of Nature, and 

 so pressing the necessity which is upon them, that they appear 

 to have no place in their organism for any other passion or appetite, but 

 push straight on, before whatever difficulties or dangers, in the discharge 

 of their maternal duties. At such times they appear quite indifferent to 

 the presence of other spiders engaged in like work ; and as it falls out 

 that the same retreats are sought by various mothers of the same or of 

 different species and genera, they often do come together in such places, 

 as, for example, under the canopy of a bit of bark (Fig. 55, Vol. 11.), or 

 in the angle of a convenient wall or cornice (Fig. GO, Vol. II.). 



In such cases, one mother will lay her cocoon close by that of another. 

 The first made cocoon will be overlapped in part by the spinningwork of 

 the second, the second by the third, and so on till a series closely wrapped 

 together may be produced. (Vol. II., Fig. GO.) All this, however, as is 

 manifest, is done without any collusion ; it is a fortuitous result, and is 

 wrought by spiders whose solitary habits are undoubted, and therefore it 

 is no proof of sociability. 



It would be more difficult, however, to explain on such a principle 

 the preparation of the silken shell of Epeira bandelieri as described by 

 M. Simon. It certainly does present at first view the seeming 

 A Com- q£ ,^j-j intentional provision, made in common by a number of 

 , .. individuals, who must have been moved by some common im- 



Chamber. P^^lse which contains some element of sociability. Had the dis- 

 tinguished French naturalist ob.served the construction of this 

 common enclosure or incubating chamber there would be little room for 

 doubt; but as he appears to reason rather from the sjsecimens as they 



'See Vol. II., page 76 of this work. - Vol. II., page 85. 



