46 



PECEHAM. 



[Vol. 1. 



are always ready for a passage at arms. When courting the 

 females they have another movement. They approach her 

 rapidly until within two to five inches, when they stop and ex- 

 tend the first legs directly forward, close to the ground, the legs 

 being slightly curved with the 

 tips turned up. (Fig. 18.) 

 Whether it be intentional or 

 not, this position serves admir- 

 ably to expose the whole of the 



Fig. 18. — DendTyphantes 

 jsition of 

 (from nature, 



Position of^maie^^pjiroaohing- female brouze and white face to the 



Fig. 19.— Dendry- 

 phantes capitatus. 

 Face and palpi of 

 male (from nature, 

 byL. K.). 



attentive female, who watches 

 him closely from a little distance. (Fig. 19.) The males also 

 give their palpi a circular movement, much as a person does 

 when washing his hands. As he grows more excited, he lies 

 down on one side with his legs still extended. 

 These antics are repeated for a very long time, 

 often for hours, when at last the female, either 

 won by his beauty or worn out by his persis- 

 tence, accepts his addresses. 



DENDRYPHANTES ELEGANS. 



The male of the species, like many other 

 animals, has received a number of names. 

 Hentz called the female elegans, and the male 

 superciliosus. C. Koch called him cristata, and we ourselves, 

 ibialis. on account of the fringe of hairs on the tibia of his 

 first leg. Both sexes are beautiful. The male is covered 

 with iridescent scales, his general color being green ; in the 

 female the coloring is dark, but iridescent, and in certain lights 

 has lovely rosy tints. In the sunlight both shine with the 

 metallic splendor of humming-birds. The male alone has a 

 superciliary fringe of hairs on either side of his head, his first 

 legs being also longer and more adorned than those of his 

 mate. The female is much larger, and her loveliness is 

 accompanied by an extreme irritability of temper which the 

 male seems to regard as a constant menace to his safety, but 

 his eagerness being great, and his manners devoted and tender. 



