790 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the young naturalist who made it about forty years ago, revealing 

 a beautiful force-pump action, executed by instruments of infinite 

 delicacy, and a power with which no machine of human invention 

 can be compared. 



Spiders are generally very prolific; yet we never see their 

 numbers increasing considerably in any country. Fecundity is 

 always proportioned to the dangers that threaten individuals. 

 The young of these creatures so skilled in spreading nets are 

 tempting bits to the appetites of carnivorous birds. All the 

 spiders lay eggs, the larvae from which have already the form 

 and aspect of their parents. "While as mothers they are incom- 

 parably careful, vigilant, and devoted, spiders show no feeling 

 except for their own progeny. From the moment the young are 

 in a condition to leave their mother, they become isolated from 

 one another. When not under the influence of maternal instincts, 

 the spider lives only for herself, ignoring the existence of every 

 other individual of her race, which she devours pitilessly when- 

 ever she finds one within her reach. In such a world there are, 

 in fact, no loves. The females are believed to be absolutely 

 indifferent. If a male desires to contract a marriage, he proceeds 

 with unexampled precautions, as if he knew he would be ill re- 

 ceived. At last, if he is adroit, he will enjoy an embrace of an 

 instant, and then, making the best use of his legs, which are 

 longer than those of his ferocious spouse, he gets away as quickly 

 as possible, otherwise his relative weakness would make him a 

 victim. Poor male spider ! He can not know the joys of pater- 

 nity, but he can doubtless renew again and again his short in- 

 stants of pleasure, for the two sexes are represented in the most 

 unequal manner, the females being ten or twenty times as numer- 

 ous as the males. The facts just related apply to spiders in gen- 

 eral. But the various types furnish examples of special indus- 

 tries, aptitudes, and manners, on account of which it is necessary 

 to divide our subject into special histories. 



On the edge of the forest, among the rough-barked trees, or in 

 dilapidated walls in the open fields, one may see in hot, sunshiny 

 days numerous little spiders, scattered singly or gathered in groups, 

 among which no hostility is manifested. Parts of their bodies are 

 sometimes glossy and brightly colored, sometimes adorned with 

 regular and elegant designs, forming a fine white, yellow, or red 

 pubescence. They are extremely lively, and seek the brightest 

 light. If the amateur tries to catch one he will be disappointed, 

 for it will escape him and get out of the way at a bound. These 

 spiders, jumpers, belong to the group which naturalists call the 

 saltatory spiders (Fig. 2). Some of them are disguised, as if for 

 protective resemblance, with the costume of a hymenopterous 

 insect, or under an aspect resembling that of ants. Producing 



