The Narbonne Lycosa 79 



The Lycosa is a stay-at-home. She never 

 goes out except to snap up some game passing 

 within her hunting-domains, near the burrow. 

 At the end of August, however, it is not unusual 

 to meet her roaming about, dragging her wallet 

 behind her. Her hesitations make one think that 

 she is looking for her home, which she has left 

 for the moment and has a difficulty in finding. 



Why these rambles ? There are two reasons : 

 first the pairing and then the making of the pill. 

 There is a lack of space in the burrow, which 

 provides only room enough for the Spider 

 engaged in long contemplation. Now the pre- 

 parations for the egg-bag require an extensive 

 flooring, a supporting frame-work about the 

 size of one's hand, as my caged prisoner has 

 shown us. The Lycosa has not so much space 

 at her disposal, in her well ; hence the necessity 

 for coming out and working at her wallet in the 

 open air, doubtless in the quiet hours of the 

 night. 



The meeting with the male seems likewise 

 to demand an excursion. Running the risk of 

 being eaten alive, will he venture to plunge 

 into his lady's cave, into a lair whence flight 



