126 The Life of the Spider 



They slip in among the others, or, when the 

 layer is too thick, push to the front and pass 

 from the abdomen to the thorax and even to 

 the head, though leaving the region of the eyes 

 uncovered. It does not do to blind the bearer : 

 the common safety demands that. They know 

 this and respect the lenses of the eyes, however 

 populous the assembly be. The whole animal 

 is now covered with a swarming carpet of 

 young, all except the legs, which must preserve 

 their freedom of action, and the under part 

 of the body, where contact with the ground is 

 to be feared. 



My pencil forces a third family upon the 

 already overburdened Spider ; and this too is 

 peacefully accepted. The youngsters huddle 

 up closer, lie one on top of the other in layers 

 and room is found for all. The Lycosa has 

 lost the last semblance of an animal, has 

 become a nameless bristling thing that walks 

 about. Falls are frequent and are followed by 

 continual climbings. 



I perceive that I have reached the limits not 

 of the bearer's good- will, but of equrLibrium. 

 The Spider would adopt an indefinite further 



