No. 2.] MENTAL POWERS OF SPIDERS. 



387 



females were represented among the spiders experimented 

 upon. At another time ten individuals were tested, at first 

 with a clean match, and then with a match dipped into oil of 

 lavender. The results were in all respects like those given 

 above. 



We next turned our attention to the orb-weavers. To pro- 

 cure good material we made a trip to a neighboring swamp, 

 and captured half-a-dozen large and handsome specimens of 

 Argiope riparia. These we set free in a wire-enclosed porch, 

 which, by the following morning, was ornamented by several 

 of the interesting webs peculiar to this species. 



Our first trial was made with a female, while she hung in the 

 usual position in her web. The end of a clean rod was held 

 for some moments just in front of her. There was no response. 

 The rod was then dipped into oil of lavender and held as 

 before. The end of the abdomen was immediately jerked 

 upward, and the first legs were moved from side to side. After 

 an interval of ten minutes the lavender was held just above the 

 end of the abdomen ; it was again lifted, and a moment later 

 the tips of the third and then of the first pair of legs were 

 rubbed, one at a time, between the fakes and the palpi. 



Turning to another female of this species, we held a clean rod 

 near the hind legs. There was no response. The rod was then 

 dipped into essence of heliotrope, and held as before. One of 

 the legs of the third pair was immediately moved, the tip being 

 rubbed between the palpi and falces, as in the preceding in- 

 stance ; and similar movements of some of the other legs fol- 

 lowed. The same movements took place when the heliotrope 

 was held in front of the spider. 



Poinding a female of Epeira strix with her head and most of 

 her body hidden under the silken covering within which spiders 

 of this species commonly remain during the day, we brought a 

 rod, at first clean, and then wet with oil of lavender, near the tip 

 of the abdomen. There was no response in the first instance, 

 but in the second the spider quickly retreated within the cover- 

 ing, so as to be entirely out of sight. 



A female of Epeira labyrinthea, while hanging in her web, 

 was gently touched with a rod which had shortly before been 

 dipped into essence of heliotrope, but which was quite dry. She 

 instantly seized the rod, and went vigorously to work to bind it 



