364 SPIDERS. 



people I saw reposing in groups about the fort, appeared 

 to be a very fine, and even handsome race, both men 

 and women. 



The ground in this part of the forest, was literally 

 over-run with a small black, agile, species of Lycosa, 

 many of which had a white, flattened, globose cocoon 

 affixed to the ends of their abdomens. It was most 

 amusing to watch the earnest solicitude with which these 

 jealous mothers protected the cradles of their little ones, 

 allowing themselves to fall into the hands of the enemy, 

 rather than be robbed of the silken nests that contained 

 their helpless progeny. All Spiders are gifted with the 

 same " storge," or maternal instinct, and resort to various 

 methods for the purpose of securing their cocoons. The 

 TJteridion, when a seizure of the precious burden is 

 threatened, tumbles, together with it, to the ground, and 

 remains motionless, guarding it with solicitous anxiety ; 

 and the Tliomisus covers the receptacle of its offspring 

 with its body, and when robbed of it, wanders about dis- 

 consolate. Did the minute size of these poor Spiders 

 admit of the same psycological dissertations, anecdotes as 

 interesting, no doubt, as those told of the she-bear, when 

 robbed of her cubs, or the violent emotions of the Lioness, 

 when disturbed in her maternal duties, by the hunters 

 in the jungle, might be recorded, proving how strong is the 

 love of offspring, even in animals the most insignificant. 



While staying at Basilan, I had an opportunity of ob- 

 serving the animal of Ovulum volva, in a living state, and 

 shall shortly mention its habits. The Radius is slow and 

 languid in its movements, sliding along deliberately, and 

 is not more sensible to alarm than Cyprcea or Calpurnus. 



