THE SPIDERS 163 



the one on top. closes her lethal engine and grinds the 

 head of the prostrate foe. Then she calmly devours the 

 deceased by small mouthfuls. 



Now what do the youngsters do, while their mother is 

 being eaten? Easily consoled, heedless of the atrocious 

 scene, they climb on the conqueror's back and quietly take 

 their places among the lawful family. The ogress raises 

 no objection, accepts them as her own. She makes a 

 meal off the mother and adopts the orphans. 



Let us add that, for many months yet, until the final 

 emancipation comes, she will carry them without draw- 

 ing any distinction between them and her own young. 

 Henceforth the two families, united in so tragic a fash- 

 ion, will form but one. We see how greatly out of place 

 it would be to speak, in this connection, of mother-love 

 and its fond manifestations. 



Does the Lycosa at least feed the younglings who, for 

 seven months, swarm upon her back? Does she invite 

 them to the banquet when she has secured a prize? I 

 thought so at first; and, anxious to assist at the family 

 repast, I devoted special attention to watching the moth- 

 ers eat. As a rule, the prey is consumed out of sight, 

 in the burrow ; but sometimes also a meal is taken on the 

 threshold, in the open air. Besides, it is easy to rear 

 the Lycosa and her family in a wire-gauze cage, with 

 a layer of earth wherein the captive will never dream of 

 sinking a well, such work being out of season. Every- 

 thing then happens in the open. 



Well, while the mother munches, chews, expresses the 

 juices and swallows, the youngsters do not budge from 



