SOCIAL HABITS OF SPIDERS, oT 
are of a thick fibre, analagous to the cocoons of Argiope,’! are rounded 
upon one face, almost flat upon the other, and attached to the walls of 
4 the incubating chamber by a short pedicle. (Fig. 33.) M. Simon 
Sociable jad found f these shells enclosing as high as ten cocoons 
Epeira, 2d found many of these shells enclosing gh as te ons, 
and “five or six females sharing together the cares of maternity.” 
He did not know what might have transpired at the moment of hatching, but 
thought it probable that the shell would be found at that time filled with 
a large number of young Epeiras. He had received from Quito another 
species of the same genus, of which the societies ought to be more numer- 
ous, if one may judge by the series of cocoons disposed in wreaths, which 
had been sent to him. But the cocoons of this species are spherical, and 
tied together by a loose wadding without being enclosed within a case. 
This last named feature is not uncommon, as may be seen by refer- 
ence to my observations of cocooning habits.2 There seems to be a de- 
cided, and in some cases entire, suspension of pugnacity and 
Pugna- ordinary appetite in the females at the time of ovipositing. So 
eee intense are they upon discharging the functions of Nature, and 
so pressing the necessity which is upon them, that they appear 
to have no place in their organism for any other passion or appetite, but 
push straight on, before whatever difficulties or dangers, in the discharge 
of their maternal duties. At such times they appear quite indifferent to 
the presence of other spiders engaged in like work; and as it falls out 
that the same retreats are sought by various mothers of the same or of 
different species and genera, they often do come together in such places, 
as, for example, under the canopy of a bit of bark (Fig. 55, Vol. IL.), or 
in the angle of a convenient wall or cornice (Fig. 60, Vol. IT.). 
In such cases, one mother will lay her cocoon close by that of another. 
The first made cocoon will be overlapped in part by the spinningwork of 
the second, the second by the third, and so on till a series closely wrapped 
together may be produced. (Vol. IL, Fig. 60.) All this, however, as is 
manifest, is done without any collusion; it is a fortuitous result, and is 
wrought by spiders whose solitary habits are undoubted, and therefore it 
is no proof of sociability. 
It would be more difficult, however, to explain on such a principle 
the preparation of the silken shell of Epeira bandelieri as described by 
M. Simon. It certainly does present at first view the seeming 
A Com- of an intentional provision, made in common by a number of 
awa individuals, who must have been moved by some common im- 
ating : : fest as : 
Chamber, Pulse which contains some element of sociability. Had the dis- 
tinguished French naturalist observed the construction of this 
common enclosure or incubating chamber there would be little room for 
doubt; but as he appears to reason rather from the specimens as they 
1See Vol. II., page 76 of this work. * Vol. II., page 85. 
