56 PECKHAM. [Vol. 1. 



We passed one afternoon in watching a female oifasdata in 

 her web, around the edge of which were perched four little 

 males. The proceedings were briefly as follows : 



One of the males ran lightly over the web toward the 

 female, approaching her from behind. Before he reached her 

 she, seemingly conscious of his approach, gave the web a violent 

 shake, whereupon he retreated. He made three or four trials 

 of this kind and then seemed to give up hope. His place was 

 taken by one of the other males, which acted in exactly the 

 same way, with no greater success, and then gave place to a 

 third. The female was always approached from above and be- 

 hind, she hanging head downward, and she usually gave her 

 warnnig shake before the male came very near, although once 

 or twice he came close enough to touch her. The males 

 showed no ill feeling toward each other. The most interesting 

 part of it was that she seemed to recognize from the character 

 of the vibration that a male was approaching, not taking the 

 motion of the web to signify that an insect was entangled in 

 it, as in this case she would at once have turned to secure her 

 prey. 



From these slight observations we were inclined to believe 

 that the courtship in the Epeiridw was carried on, to some extent 

 at least, by a vibration of web lines. Dr. McCook subsequently 

 confirmed that opinion, and we quote from his work on Ameri- 

 can Spiders and their Spinning Industry the following extract, 

 which bears directly on the subject : 



'The first stages of courtship have already been indicated. 

 Having found the snare of his partner, the male stations him- 

 self upon the outer border and awaits results. It is not difficult 

 for him to communicate his presence. Indeed, he must take his 

 place deftly and keep it very quietly upon the snare, or he will 

 quickly bring down upon him the voracious lady of the house. 

 A touch of his claw upon a radius would telegraph to the 

 female the fact of his presence ; and I believe, from what I have 

 seen of the opei'ations of the male in this preliminary stage of 

 courtship, as well as from the recorded observations of others. 



