COLOR AND THE COLOR SENSE. 333 



former with a wide, pure white band on each upper side and a white spot 

 on the centre of the head, the latter with a wide white hand around the 

 hast- and sidc.s. The female has the brown all covered over with white and 

 gray hairs, which form a more or less distinct pattern of lines and spots. 1 

 In Ilabrocestum splendens, while the young males are not exactly like 

 the adult female, they" resemble her much more closely than they do the 

 adult male. This is one of our most beautiful male Saltigrades. The 

 highly iridescent scales which cover the entire body make it impossible 

 to give in a painting a correct idea of its brilliancy, since the color changes 

 in every light. The male only gets his gorgeous livery at the last movdt, 

 just as he becomes mature, though in some species the nuptial moult is 

 acquired one moult before maturity. 2 



This prevalent condition of the relative brilliancy of coloring between 

 the sexes of the Attidse is entirely reversed among Orbweavers. In this 

 tribe there is a strong tendency to inconspicuous colors in males, and fre- 

 quently in the degree that the females are conspicuous for size and color- 

 ing, the males are diminutive and dull. 



We have already seen (see Chapter II., page 60), from our examination 

 of the interesting studies of the Peckhams upon the courtship of Salti- 

 grade spiders, that there is a close relation between mating 

 Color habits and the brilliant colors prevalent among males. In other 

 words, the favors desired from the female are solicited with such 

 ness a display of the ornamented parts of the male body, as to jus- 



tify the conclusion that the ornamentation is pleasing to the fe- 

 male, and is presented in the way of soliciting her favors. Of course, if 

 we accept this fact, we also admit that there must be, on the part of both 

 sexes, a consciousness of the presence of color, and the fact that the female 

 at least is so sensitive to the differences in color ornamentation as to be 

 moved towards this wooer or that according to the splendor of his physi- 

 cal finery. 



That climate and favorable environment sometimes exert modifying in- 

 fluences upon the general facies and, to some extent, the industry of spi- 

 ders, is illustrated by Epeira labyrinthea. I have specimens of 

 this species from almost every part of the United States where 

 ' collections of araneads have been made. It is distributed from 

 the far Northeast to the southwestern portion of California. I have also 

 received specimens in collections forwarded to me by Professor Peckham 

 from several South American States. These southern representatives of the 

 species are larger and decidedly more vigorous looking animals than the 

 northern specimens. The industry of the spider experiences no essential 

 change as far as I can learn. The snare is, perhaps, larger with tropical 

 examples. Specimens of cocoons sent to me from southern California have 



1 Peckham, Sexual Selection, page 17. - Id., page 18. 



