1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 61 



easily climb the smooth glass walls, such as the heavier Epeirids, 

 threads may be tied upon these walls to give them a foothold. To 

 observe burrowing habits one should put earth in the cages. 



Small spiders may be used as food when insects are not obtainable, 

 house flies at other times. All ground spiders need water freciuently, 

 and the species of Pirata quickly die from thirst. Attempts to feed 

 the spiders with beef extract were unsuccessful. 



It is by no means sufficient, however, to simply place the spiders in 

 their glass cages. Great patience in expectant watching is demanded, 

 and no results can be gained unless long continuous periods can be 

 given to this w^atching. To observe the mating, the spiders should 

 be collected in their natural mating season, and mature males intro- 

 duced to females which have just become mature; and in the case of 

 the Lycosidae the collecting should commence in the early spring. 

 Partition cages are most useful for the spiders which do not spin webs, 

 as they obviate any handling; in the web-making species the male 

 should be gently dropped from a test-tube upon the web of the female ; 

 in no case should the spiders be handled with forceps. Freshly cavight 

 specimens generally give the best results. The considerable number 

 of deaths which resulted during the month of September were mainly 

 on account of starvation, due to my absence at that time. 



This contribution is divided into three parts: Observations, Gen- 

 eral Considerations, and a list of the literature bearing upon the sub- 

 jects of courtship, mating, parthenogenesis, cocooning, sexual selec- 

 tion, and care of eggs and young. The literature list it has been my 

 aim to make as complete as possible. 



The species of Dictyna, Teutana, Steatoda, Linyphia, Xysticiis, 

 Drassus and Philodromus, Mr. Nathan Banks, Assistant in the Division 

 of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, has kindly identified 

 for me, and it gives me pleasure to express my thanks here for this 

 service . 



Finally, I would dedicate the work to the one who cheered long vigils 

 of observation with her sympathy. 

 Lycosa stonei Montg. PI. V, fig. 10. 



This small species is found abundantly in local woods in the spring 

 and early portion of the summer, running upon the dead leaves on the 

 ground. Later in the summer it becomes rarer, the females then hiding 

 themselves under stones, and the males disappearing. The general 

 coloration of the female is an admirable adaptation to the color of 

 dead leaves ; the male is smaller, mainly deep black in color, and the 

 tibiae of his first pair of legs are covered with vertically implanted bristles, 



