44 PECKHAM. Vol. 1. 



as he entered at the opposite side of the box, some thirteen 

 inches away. Eyeing him attentively, she slowly changed her 

 position to keep him in sight, and kept her palpi moving rap- 

 idly, a characteristic action with the species. As he neared her, 

 he stretched the first and second pairs of legs sideways, but, after 

 a moment, backed away. (Fig. 17.) These manoeuvres were re- 

 peated many times. 

 Occasi n a 1 1 y he 

 would bend the tip 

 of the abdomen 

 down, lifting the 

 body up on the last 

 joints of the two 



Fig. 17. — Marptusa familiaris. Positions in courtship: 

 left-hand figure female, right-hand figure male (from hiuderinost 1 ff S . 

 nature toy L. K.). ^ 



The female always 

 paid the greatest attention to his movements, lying on the 

 ground, with all the legs flattened out and the palpi slightly 

 raised, the only movement visible being the vibration of the 

 palpi. There is a certain slowness and dignity about the 

 wooing of this species that is almost ludicrous. 



PHIDIPPUS RUFUS. 



The sexes are alike in general coloring, but the male has 

 much the brighter tint. In the early days of July we found 

 them mature and brought them together. The female standing 

 still, the male, while some five inches away, stood high on the 

 six back legs, turned the first pair forward and upward and 

 crossed them at the tips ; the palpi were held widely apart, par- 

 allel with the second legs. The effect of this position was to 

 bring directly before her, as she stood watching him, the 

 beautiful white hairs on the lower part of the palpi.' At the 

 same time the abdomen dropped so that it touched the ground. 

 In this way he advanced, with a swaying motion. The female 

 ran away, but after a time he renewed his attentions. The 



1. These white hairs, In contrast with the bright iridescent green falcea, are 

 very striking; the female, although her falces are green, is without the white hairs. 



