Chapter Hi 



THE NARBONNE LYCOSA 



The Epeira, who displays such astonishing 

 industry to give her eggs a dwelhng-house of 

 incomparable perfection, becomes, after that, 

 careless of her family. For what reason ? She 

 lacks the time. She has to die when the first 

 cold comes, whereas the eggs are destined to 

 pass the winter in their downy snuggery. The 

 desertion of the nest is inevitable, owing to the 

 very force of things. But, if the hatching were 

 earlier and took place in the Epeira's lifetime, 

 I imagine that she would rival the bird in 

 devotion. 



So I gather from the analogy of Thomisus 

 onustus, Walck., a shapely Spider who weaves 

 no web, lies in wait for her prey and walks 

 sideways, after the manner of the Crab. I 

 have spoken elsewhere ^ of her encounters with 



^ In Chap. VIII. of the present volume. — Translator's Note. 

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