1842.] Captain Thos. Hutton on Galeodes {Vorax.J 859 



by main force before it up the mouth of the cave, and then returned 

 for more. Having completed its task, it remained for a few days sta- 

 tionary and refused to feed, although previously it would devour seve- 

 ral insects at a meal, and even small house lizards. I now perceived 

 that it was a female, the ova being distinctly visible through the skin 

 of the abdomen, which was much distended. 



The ova were deposited in the cave, to the number of more than 

 fifty (50,) the parent remaining motionless amidst them. In the 

 course of a fortnight, these, which were of the size of a largish mustard 

 seed, and of whitish hue, were all hatched. 



The young are at first motionless, and appear devoid of animation 

 until the period of three weeks has elapsed, at which time they cast 

 the first skin. Their colour, which up to this time was pure milky 

 white, now gave place to a faint tinge of pale brown, and the jaws and 

 palpi became deep brown. 



The young ones now threw off their lethargy, and began to move 

 about and occasionally sallied forth from the den, but instantly re- 

 treated on the slightest appearance of danger. All this time, however, 

 they took, apparently, no food whatever, and yet they continued to 

 grow both in size and activity. 



It was indeed very interesting to watch the motions of the parent 

 at this season. From the general bad and ferocious character which 

 the spider tribe bears, I fully expected to see the parent, at the first 

 craving of appetite, commence an attack upon her own family, and 

 devour them ; but the all-wise Creator has endowed even this ferocious 

 spider with that most powerful feeling — maternal love ; and thus is 

 the Galeodes, the very tiger of the insect world, subdued at this peri- 

 od into the anxious and tender mother. Placing herself in front of 

 the aperture of the cave, she seized and examined between her anterior 

 palpi, every thing that entered. I tried repeatedly to arouse her anger 

 by thrusting in straws, hoping to make her forget her good behaviour, 

 but all in vain, for though she bit and pulled at the straws in evident 

 anger, not once did she turn upon her offspring, although crowding 

 round and crawling over her very body. I then threw in some beetles 

 and flies, upon which she vented her fury by speedily devouring them, 

 and I thought by this means to play her a trick. Accordingly, I with- 

 drew two or three of the young ones from the cave, and threw in alter- 



5 u 



