The Narbonne Lycosa 



a horrible pin-cushion that no longer bears 

 the least resemblance to a Spider fonn. 

 Meanwhile, the sufferer raises no sort of pro- 

 test against this access of family. She 

 placidly accepts them all and walks diem all 

 about. 



The youngsters, on their side, are unable 

 to distinguish between what is permitted and 

 forbidden. Remarkable acrobats that they 

 are, they climb on the first Spider that comes 

 along, even when of a different species, pro- 

 vided that she be of a fair size. I place them 

 in the presence of a big Epeira marked with 

 a white cross on a pale-orange ground {Epeira 

 pallida, Oliv.). The little ones, as soon as 

 they are dislodged from the back of the Ly- 

 cosa their mother, clamber up the stranger 

 without hesitation. 



Intolerant of these familiarities, the 

 Spider shakes the leg encroached upon and 

 flings the intruders to a distance. The as- 

 sault is doggedly resumed, to such good 

 purpose that a dozen succeed in hoisting them- 

 selves to the top. The Epeira, who is not 

 accustomed to die tickling of such a load, 

 turns over on her back and roUs on the 

 ground in the manner of a donkey when his 



133 



