GROUND SPIDERS. 105 



a homily on manners. Soon she gently releases them, 

 slowly opening her arms, and they quietly take their 

 places around the edge of the tower, where they usually 

 remain until the mother goes below, when they all fol- 

 low. Upon her re-appearance they are again stationed 

 upon her back. 



When these little creatures were two weeks old they 

 strung innumerable lines of web across the mother's 

 back ; this I soon found was to enable them to dispose 

 of their baby dresses. Up to this time they had been 

 piled upon her abdomen as well as upon her thorax, 

 but now, as if by common consent, they entirely forsook 

 the abdomen as a resting-place, and devoted it exclu- 

 sively to a dressing-room. Sometimes two or three are 

 divesting themselves at the same time. They fasten 

 themselves by a short line of web to one of the lines 

 which they have strung across the mother, and this 

 holds them firmly while they undress. The skin cracks 

 all around the thorax, and is held only by the front 

 edge ; next the abdomen is freed, and now comes the 

 struggle to free the legs. The little one works and 

 kicks vigorously, and seems to have no very easy task ; 

 but earnest perseverance brings it out of the old dress 

 in about fifteen minutes, perfectly exhausted and al- 

 most lifeless. I take one upon my hand, whei'e it lies 

 limp and helpless for several minutes, and then it grad- 

 ually comes back to life, and is soon as bright and 

 as before. 



Whence came the knowledge that impelled these lit- 



