82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Jan., 



coon that she was carrying attached to her spinnerets, and 6 parasitic 

 wingless hymenoptera emerged from two circular holes in the cocoon ; 

 they had killed all the young spiders that had been contained in it. 

 Prof. William H. Ashmead, Assistant Curator in the U. S. National 

 Museum, kindly identified this parasite as Pezomachus dimidiaius 

 Cresson (an Ichneumonid).^ 



Lycosa charonoides Montg. 



Care of the Young. — The type individual of this species was caught 

 May 31 with a globular cocoon hung to her spinnerets; the cocoon 

 was apparently newly made because it was light in color, and on the 

 evening of the same day she held it below her and spun upon it in 

 the manner characteristic of the genus.' On June 15 I found the cocoon 

 lying on the floor, with a hole made by the mother along about a third 

 of the equator; within the cocoon were about 20 dead spiderlings, 

 while a number of living ones were clustered upon her abdomen and 

 one or two running upon the floor ; the young left her back gradually, 

 some remaining upon her until June 26. 



Pardosa nigropalpis Emerton. PI. V, figs. 8, 9. 



Individuals observed, males: No. 32, captured May 4, died next day; No. 35, 

 captured May 4, killed May 15; No. 38, captured May 5, died May 29; No. 55, 

 captured May 6, died May 15; No. 56, captured May 6, escaped May 12; No. 59, 

 captured May 6, killed May 19; No. 60, captured May 6, escaped May 18; No. 62, 

 captured May 6, killed May 11; No. 64, captured May 6, died (from thirst) June 

 5; No. 172, captured June 1, died June 11. 



Individuals observed, females: No. 33, captured May 4, died August 15; No. 54, 

 captured May 6, died August 15; No. 57, captured May 6, still living; No. 58, 

 captured May 6, died August 9; No. 61, captured May 6, died June 14; No. 63, 

 captured May 6, died August 15; No. 65, captured May 6, died August 15; 

 No. 152, captured May 26, died (from effects of parasitic Mermis) June 11; 

 No. 177, captured June 1, escaped August 9. 



Mating. — This was studied by placing a male with a female only 

 during the time of observation, keeping them separated at other 

 times; a partition cage was used, or else the male was carefully dropped 

 into the cage of the female. 



This is the most abundant local Lycosid, and by collecting vigorous 

 individuals in the spring, when the males are very numerous, and 

 selecting those females which are not gravid, the courtship may be 

 readily observed. 



^ Prof. Ashmead, in a personal communication, states that a considerable 

 number of parasitic hymenoptera have been reared from the eggs and cocoons 

 of spiders, and names the genera Bieus, Aeolus, Acolvides, Polysphincta, Epiurus, 

 Pimpla. 



