40 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



other movements of tlie same nature, separated only by very short inter- 

 vals, followed the first. After these five acts of union the male retired to 

 a short distance. 



About half a minute afterwards he approached as on the first occasion, 

 introduced the bulb of his right palp into the epigynum of the female; 

 then, after the fifth movement of convulsive trembling, he again retired. 

 He continued in this manner during the space of twenty minutes. In 

 these twenty minutes he made thirteen embraces, or thirteen introductions 

 of the digital bulb of one of his palps into the vulva of his partner. After 

 these acts the male retired and went away. The female rested for about 

 a half hour in the same position, as if she awaited the return of the male, 

 who did not come back. Then she decided to remount to the top of the 

 bottle. 1 



' Walckenaer, Apt., Vol. II., pages 71, 72. 



