204 



CHAPTEK VI. 



SPIDERS AND SCORPIONS. 



Emotions, 



The emotional life of spiders, so far as we can observe it 

 as expressed in their actions, seems to be divided between 

 sexual passion (including maternal affection) and the 

 sterner feelings incidental to their fiercely predatory 

 habits. But the emotions, although apparently few and 

 simple in character, are exceedingly strong in force. In 

 many species the male spider in conducting his courtship 

 has to incur an amount of personal danger at the hands 

 (and jaws) of his terrific spouse, which might well daunt 

 the courage of a Leander. Eidiculously small and weak 

 in build, the males of these species can only conduct the 

 rites of marriage with their enormous and voracious brides 

 by a process of active manoeuvring, which if unsuccessful 

 is certain to cost them their lives. Yet their sexual 

 emotions are so strong that, as proved by the continuance 

 of the species, no amount of personal risk is sufl&cient to 

 deter them from giving these emotions full play. There 

 is no other case in the animal kingdom where courtship 

 is attended with any approach to the gravity of danger 

 that is here observable. Among many animals the males 

 have to meet a certain amount of inconvenience from the 

 coquetry or disinclination of the females ; but here the 

 coquetry and disincUnation has passed into the hungry 

 determination of a ferocious giantess. The case, therefore, 

 because unique, is of interest from an evolutionary point 

 of view. We can see a direct advantage to species from 

 the danger incurred by males on account of mutual 

 jealousy ; for this, giving rise to what Mr. Darwin has 



