42 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINQWORK. 



palpal sac, a bean shaped organ, of a bright amber color, and translucent, 

 which shone brilliantly in the sun that fell full upon it from the west. It 

 remained thus projected for a brief space, held between the finger like tufted 

 horn of the palpal bulb, and was then gradually contracted and withdrawn 

 within the black corneous bulb, which was meanwhile pressed eagerly 

 against the vulva. A small elbow or projection upon the upper 

 part of the bulb seemed to press within the spermatheca. The 

 two bulbs were laid simultaneously upon the epigynum, but the 

 inflated palpal sac appeared in but one bulb at a time, alter- 

 There was a prolonged squeezing motion of the bulbs, as though 



Use of 

 Palpal 

 Bulb. 



nately. 



Fig. 18. Pairing of Linyphia marginata. The figures much enlarged. The little dome caused by 

 the pulling down of the feet is represented, and a part of the snare proper. 



pressing into the spermatheca, and at times a corresponding motion in 

 the abdomen of the female, especially at the apex. With this exception 

 the female remained motionless during the whole period. After applica- 

 tion as above the palpal bulb was slowly, for the most part, 

 Bulbs ^^* sometimes rapidly raised by the male, bent upward, and ap- 

 parently clasped upon the falces or lower margin of his face, 

 which parts of course were upward. Three or four movements back and 

 forth in this clinched position followed, when the series of motions above 

 described Vas repeated. 



