Reproduclion of Insects. 



73 



She is both coy and inviting, and the males prac- 

 tise their most alhiring arts, flying and wheeling 

 and whirring, and chirping for her edification in 

 the hope of finally proving irresistible. 



The female spider is, perhaps, the being most 

 powerfully imbued with a sense of feminine 

 importance. 



In some instances the male, small, wary, timid, in 

 mortal terror, as well he may be, of his fierce lady- 

 love, loyal to his race, hands her, on his palpi, or 

 movable mouth-parts, his store of sperm-cells, and 

 she snatches the precious gift, and then longing for 

 still closer union with her beloved also snatches 

 him, if he is not quick enough to escape, and 

 eating him up, literally makes 

 him a part of herself! 



This is a union which the 

 spider himself does not whol- 

 ly approve, and he is ex- 

 tremely cautious in 

 approaching his too 

 ■. 4'' loving spouse. 

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