CHAPTER V 



THE NARBONNE LYCOSA : THE FAMILY 



R three weeks and more the Lycosa 

 trails the bag of eggs hanging to her 

 spinnerets. The reader will remember the ex- 

 periments described in the third chapter of this 

 volume, particularly those with the cork ball 

 and the thread pellet which the Spider so fool- 

 ishly accepts in exchange for the real pill. 

 Well, this exceedingly dull-witted mother, sat- 

 isfied with aught that knocks against her heels, 

 is about to make us wonder at her devotion. 



Whether she come up from her shaft to 

 lean upon the kerb and bask in the sun, 

 whether she suddenly retire underground in 

 the face of danger, or whether she be roaming 

 the country before settling down, never does 

 she let go her precious bag, that very cumbrous 

 burden in walking, climbing or leaping. If, 

 by some accident, it become detached from the 

 fastening to which it is hung, she flings herself 

 madly on her treasure and lovingly embraces 

 it, ready to bite whoso would take it from 

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