118 



PECKHAM. 



[Vol. 1, 



of Habrocestum peregrinum, but carried to a much higher 



degree. As it was their mating season, we had now a welcome 



opportunity of seeing what use the active 



little male, which is further beautified by 



having his first legs of a delicate light green 



color, with a fringe of white hairs along 



the outer side, makes of this adornment 



in paying his addresses to the female.* 



The display was witnessed not only by rig. i.— Third leg of new 



species of Habrocestum (from 



ourselves, but by Mr. Wm. M. Wheeler, nature). 

 who made several sketches on the spot. 



When they are put into a mating-box together, the male 

 notices the female at a distance of from six to eight inches, and 

 rapidly approaches her. When within three or four inches, 



Fig. 2.— New Habrocestum, showing position of first and third legs 

 of male in courtship (from nature). 



he begins to move from side to side, with his handsome 

 first legs pointed downward and somewhat outward, his palpi 

 extended parallel with them, and his third legs raised above 

 the first and second in such a way as to show the apophyses on 

 the patellee. Frequently, in these preliminary movements, he 

 bends the ends of the first legs inward — the bend being at the 

 tibia-;— so as to put them into the form of a diamond, mean- 

 while moving the palpi rapidly up and down. As he ap- 



*To show how a species may appear and disappear within a short time, we may 

 mention that while on June 1st we found eleven males and six females in an hour, one 

 week later four and a half hours' htintlng on the same spot gave us only one male and no 

 <;raales. 



