78 The Life of the Spider 



Epeirae. The Lycosa, indeed, has no need 

 to guard her eggs against the inclemencies of 

 the winter, for the hatching will take place long 

 before the cold weather comes. Similarly, the 

 Thomisus, with her early brood, takes good 

 care not to incur useless expenditure : she gives 

 her eggs, for their protection, a simple purse of 

 satin. 



The work of spinning, followed by that of 

 tearing, is continued for a whole morning, from 

 five to nine o'clock. Worn out with fatigue, 

 the mother embraces her dear pill and remains 

 motionless. I shall see no more to-day. Next 

 morning, I find the Spider carrying the bag of 

 eggs slung from her stern. 



Henceforth, until the hatching, she does not 

 leave go of the precious burden, which, fastened 

 to the spinnerets by a short ligament, drags and 

 bumps along the ground. With this load bang- 

 ing against her heels, she goes about her business ; 

 she walks or rests, she seeks her prey, attacks 

 it and devours it. Should some accident cause 

 the wallet to drop off, it is soon replaced. The 

 spinnerets touch it somewhere, anywhere, and 

 that is enough : adhesion is at once restored. 



