298 



THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS 



f 



the fact that the authors * often worked four or five 

 hours a day, for a week, in getting a fair idea of the 

 habits of a single species.' 



The courtship of Saitis pidex appears to be a 

 most elaborate affair. A male was placed in a box 

 containing a mature female. 'He saw her as she 

 stood perfectly still, twelve inches away ; the glance 

 seemed to excite him and he moved toward her ; 

 w^hen some four inches from her he stood still, 

 and then began the most remarkable performances 



that an amorous male 

 could offer to an admir- 

 ing female. She eyed 

 him eagerly, changing 

 her position from time 

 to time so that he might 

 be always in view. He, 

 raising his whole body 

 on one side by straight- 

 ening out the legs, and 

 lowering it on the other 

 by folding the first two pairs of legs up and under, leans 

 so far over as to be in danger of losing his balance, 

 which he only maintained by sidling rapidly towards 

 the lowered side. The palpus, too, on this side was 

 turned back to correspond to the du'ection of the legs 

 nearest it (see fig. 63). He moved in a semicircle 

 for about two inches, and then instantly reversed the 

 position of the legs and circled in the opposite direc- 



FlG. ed.—Saitis pulex. Male dauciug 

 before female (from Peckham). 



