The Crab Spider 191 



surface outside. My attempt was unsuccessful. 

 When removed from her home and placed on 

 the artificial wallet, the mother Thomisus 

 obstinately refused to settle there. Can she be 

 more clear-sighted than the Lycosa ? Perhaps 

 so. Let us not be too extravagant with our 

 praise, however ; the imitation of the bag was 

 a very clumsy one. 



The work of laying is finished by the end of 

 May, after which, lying fiat on the ceiling of 

 her nest, the mother never leaves her guard- 

 room, either by night or day. Seeing her look 

 so thin and wrinkled, I imagine that I can please 

 her by bringing her a provision of Bees, as I was 

 wont to do. I have misjudged her needs. The 

 Bee, hitherto her favourite dish, tempts her no 

 longer. In vain does the prey buzz close by, 

 an easy capture within the cage : the watcher 

 does not shift from her post, takes no notice 

 of the windfall. She lives exclusively upon 

 maternal devotion, a commendable but un- 

 substantial fare. And so I see her pining away 

 from day to day, becoming more and more 

 wrinkled. What is the withered thing waiting 

 for, before expiring ? She is waiting for her 



