INTRODUCTION. 



until they are old enough to separate and find their own living. 

 The young of Atypus piceus (p. 2) live with their mother in their 

 tubular abode, for a considerable time aftor they are hatched ; 

 coming out at times for air and exorcise, and fod by insects 

 brought into the tube by their parent. At least, so I conclude, 

 from having found the debris of beetles and earwigs in the tube 

 along with the young brood of spidors. Many (probably all) of 

 the Lycosides show great affection for thoir egg cocoons, which 

 they bear about attached to the spinners ; and, if doprived of 

 them, search anxiously about, eagerly seizing the cocoon when 

 found, and again and again doing so if it be repeatedly taken from 

 them. These spiders also carry their young on their backs, until 

 old enough to shift for themselves. A mishapen, fluffy-looking 

 little brownish lump may often bo aeon running about among 

 the grass and herbage ; but, on an attompt to take hold of it, 

 suddenly the lump breaks up into scores of minute spiders, which 

 hastily disperse in all directions; the now shrunkon mother 

 remaining quietly until the panic is over and her brood again 

 gathered round her. A pretty little Thoridion, T. bimaculatum, 

 Linn. (p. 91), likewise carries its egg-cocoon about, suspended 

 between the legs, and only relinquishes it when force is used, 

 regaining it quickly, if possible. Although in many, perhaps 

 most, instances the males and females live separate lives, yet in 

 some cases they live amicably togother — for instance, the two 

 sexes of Agelena labyrinthica (p. 67, pi. i., fig. 1) may be found 

 in great amity together in their tubular retroat. So also those 

 of Meta segmentata, Clk., Linyphia marginata, 01k., and others 

 inhabit the same web when adult. 



Duration of a Spider's Life. 



The length of life among spiders is evidently very varied. It 

 is probable that some specios arrive at maturity in a few weeks 

 after being hatched ; others, particularly those which hybernate 

 during the winter months, require a very much longer period — 

 jn some cases perhaps more than a year ; and it is probable also 



