MIMICRY OF SPIDERS. 49 



a snare at all they would rest underneath the same with their backs down- 

 ward toward the leaf, after the fashion of many other spiders. However, 

 Mr. Forbes is so precise in his statement that one feels it necessary to 

 accept it. As thus arranged, he speaks of the whole combination of spider 

 and web as being " so artfully contrived " as to deceive a pair of human 

 eyes intently examining it. 



This similarity of habit in spiders of the same family, at such widely 



separated points as Java and the United States, is in itself interesting. It 



is also interesting to notice that two thoroughly trained observers 



A Case sliould have independently named the same rather outre object 



°^-^^" as the one suggested by the spider's mimicry. Nevertheless, one 



""^^ " is inclined to think that the suggestion of mimicry is a bit 

 nior- . . 



phism ^^ anthropomorphism. Because suggested to the mind of the 



observer, it does not follow that any such deception had been 

 devised by the spider. All the individuals of this family and tribe are in 

 the habit of seeking tlieir prey chiefly upon trees and plants of various 

 sorts, stones, et cetera. Tliey may often be found upon the white or whit- 

 ish gray spots, or upon dried bits of lichen or moss found on plants. In 

 such positions they certainly strongly suggest the idea of intentional mim- 

 icry. However, in point of fact, the combination might have been acci- 

 dental so far as the spider is concerned. In tlie cases observed by Messrs. 

 Forbes and Webster there appears no reason to infer that so subtle a 

 process as that attributed to the spider could have found lodgment in its 

 mind. 



At least, if we accept Mr. Forbes' theory of an artful contrivance, we 

 nuist conclude that this lowly organized animal could intelligently survey 

 the field, put this and that together, select certain spots for settlement 

 after determining its own color resemblance to such spots ; then deliber- 

 ately proceed to spin a web wliich, in its general contour, would resemble 

 the particular form wliich semifluid masses are wont to assume in various 

 positions, according to the inclination of the plane upon which they fall ; 

 and then, further, arrange its own body in such relation to the web as to 



present the appearance of mottled black and gray characteristic 



Mimicry q£ jjjj.^j droppings under like circumstances. The ability for such 



, , mental processes would undoubtedly establish an order of intellect 



and powers of observation and reasoning beyond those which we 

 are at present warranted in attributing to a spider. All the facts can be 

 accounted for, and are most naturally accounted for, without introducing a 

 factor so strongly imaginary. I am disposed to think that the web as 

 described was spun in an ordinary position, in the form habitual to the 

 species, and in such locality as it usually frequents ; moreover, that this 

 was done without any intention to perpetrate a mimicry such as the 

 observer fancied, and which in fact existed simply as an analogy in his 

 mind. 



