38 PEGKHAM. [Vol. 1. 



rapidly toward the lowered side. The palpus, too, on this side 

 was turned back to correspond to the direction of the legs nearest 

 it. (Fig. 13.) He moved in a semi-circle for about two inches 

 and then instantly reversed the position of the legs and circled 

 in the opposite direction, gradually approaching nearer and 

 nearer to the female. Now she dashes toward him, while he, 

 raising his first pair of legs, extends them upward and forward 

 as if to hold her off, but withal slowly retreats. Again and 

 again he circles from side to side, she 

 gazing toward him in a softer mood, 

 evidently admiring the grace of his 

 antics. This is repeated until we 

 have counted 111 circles made by 

 the ardent little male. Now he 

 approaches nearer and nearer and 

 when almost within reach whirls 

 madly around and around her, she 

 ioining and whirling with him in a 



Fig. 13.~Saltis pulex. Male ■> ° => 



dancing beiore female (from na- giddy mazc. Again he falls back and 



ture, by Mr. Ludwig Kumlien). o j & 



resumes his semi-circular motions, 

 with his body tilted over; she, all excitement, lowers her head 

 and raises her body so that it is almost vertical; both draw nearer; 

 she moves slowly under him, he crawling over her head, and 

 the mating is accomplished. 



After they have paired once, the preliminary courtship is 

 not so long. When this same pair mated a second time, there 

 were no whirling movements, nor did the female lift her body, 

 as at first. We watched this species a great deal during the 

 three weeks that the mating lasted. Once we saw a female ap- 

 proach a very glum-looking male, waving her palpi and making 

 herself agreeable, but in vain, He was pushed a little from 

 without, so as to make him look toward her, when she turned 

 about, holding her abdomen high and her head low. Finally 

 he grew excited enough to dance a little, and then they whirled 

 round and round together in the usual manner ; but she 

 appeared the more eager of the two. This was true, however. 



