PHYSIOLOGY OF THE INVERTEBRATA. 441 



wliich terminate in an aperture situated at the base of the 

 abdomen. There is no penis, for these animals use their 

 palpi * to introduce the spermatophores into the vulva of the 

 female. The female organ consists of two ovaries, situated 

 (in the female) in the same position as the testis in the male. 

 They open by two oviducts into a vagina situated between 

 the pulmonary sacs ; and the vagina opens externally 

 " after having previously received the excretory ducts of the 

 two contiguous receptacula seminis. The females surround 

 their eggs in groups, with a web." The Araneina'f are 

 oviparous and, according to Claparede, there is no metamor- 

 phosis." 



As already stated, the male spider applies his palpi con- 

 taining spermatophores to the genital apertures of the female ; 

 this is due to the fact that the female spider is prone to slay 

 and devour the male. "The young and inexperienced male, 

 always the smallest and weakest of the sexes, has been known 

 to fall a victim, and pay the forfeit of his life for his too rash 

 proposals. The more practised suitor advances with many 

 precautions, carefully feels about with his long legs, his 

 outstretched palpi being much agitated ; he announces his 

 approach by vibrating the outer border of the web of the 

 female, who answers the signal, and indicates acquiescence 

 by raising her fore-feet from the web, when the male rapidly 

 approaches ; his palpi are extended to their utmost, and a 

 drop of clear liquid exudes from the tip of each clavate end, 

 where it remains attached, the tips themselves immediately 

 coming in contact with a transverse fleshv kind of teat or 

 tubercle protruded by the female from the base of the under 

 side of the abdomen. After consummation, the male is 

 sometimes obliged to save himself by a precipitate retreat : 

 for the ordinary savage instincts of the female, ' ctiani in 



* The palpi take up the spermatophores from the genital aperture. 



t Concerning the development of the Araneina, see Kamakichi Kisliin- 

 ouye's paper in Journal of College of Science, Imperial University of Japan 

 (Teikoku Daigaku), vol. 4. 



