252 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



relations of the Spiders, and in many things resemble 

 them, notably in regard to their ferocity. One does not 

 meet here, however, with the same disparity in size 

 between the sexes, nor are vivid colours ever developed. 

 This, according to some, would be accounted for by the 

 fact that though these creatures possess numerous eyes 

 they are practically blind, and depend for their informa- 

 tion as to what is going on around them by their sense of 

 touch, which is excessively delicate. They are morose 

 in disposition and always solitary. It has been said 

 that if two are found under the same stone — a favourite 

 lurking-place — one is engaged in eating the other ! 

 Nevertheless, they are of abstemious habits, for the 

 naturalist Fabre found that from October to March they 

 last, though throughout this time they remain alert, 

 and always ready to resent disturbance. In April they 

 exhibit more activity, though even then they eat but 

 little. But now they begin to wander in search of 

 mates. 



Fabre's observations on their mating habits are exceed- 

 ingly interesting, and they have brought to light some 

 very extraordinary phenomena. His notes were made 

 on the species common in the South of France — Buthus 

 occitans. Mr. Cecil Warburton, referring to the distin- 

 guished Frenchman's work, quotes the following note- 

 worthy passage in the Cambridge Natural History : 

 " After some very curious antics, in which the animals 

 stood face to face with raised tails, which they inter- 

 twined . . . they always indulged in what Fabre calls 

 a * promenade a deux ' hand in hand, so to speak, the 

 male seizing the chelae of the female with his own and 

 walking backwards, while the female followed, usually 

 without any reluctance. This promenade occupied an 



