No. 503] THE ACTIVITIES OF ABANEABS 703 



he does continue to construct nests ; and his nest is quite 

 as complex as that of the female. I have not determined 

 whether a male after satisfaction of his sexual desires 

 would again spin a snare; but probably he would not 

 have a chance of doing so, for the female becomes satisfied 

 before he does and frequently succeeds in devouring him. 

 Indeed, I have obsrved a female of marmorea devouring 

 one male while another was importunely making advances 

 to her. 



As to the sexual ratio of mormorea, I found in the 

 field 16 males of the penultimate instar to 19 females of 

 the same age, and 23 adult males to 87 adult females. 

 These figures are too meager to allow of any general con- 

 clusion, beyond that the males at maturity seem to be 

 less than half as numerous as females, and just before ma- 

 turity to be slightly less numerous. The greater disparity 

 in numbers at maturity may well be due to accidents be- 

 falling males while they are seeking mates and to their de- 

 struction by the females themselves. On August 31 I 

 measured the orbs of 24 adult females of marmorea; on 

 only 8 of them were there adult males, these webs having 

 from one to three males each. It is probable that more 

 than one male copulates with a given female, and that a 

 given male may mate with more than one female; for 

 I have found this to be the case with Theridium tepidar- 

 iorm and certain Lycosids. 5 



3. The Senses of Touch and Sight in Snare-making 

 Spiders 



The number of eyes in araneads, usually eight, their 

 different positions upon the head area, and their complex- 

 ity in being compound (constructed of separate retin- 

 ulae), has led naturalists to the view that the sense of 

 sight plays a large part in their vital activities. And this 

 idea is substantiated for such species as are strictly hunt 



•Before the antepenult in,:.:- !• ■> ■■■!■; r...t »»• distinguished ex- 



Ann. Sci. Nat., 1888) the external male peculiarities do not exhibit them- 

 selves in Attus before the fifth moult, and in Lycom before the seventh. 



