thing that walks about. Falls are frequent and are followed by continual
climbings.

I perceive that I have reached the limits not of the bearer's good-will,
but of equilibrium. The Spider would adopt an indefinite further number
of foundlings, if the dimensions of her back afforded them a firm hold.
Let us be content with this. Let us restore each family to its mother,
drawing at random from the lot. There must necessarily be interchanges,
but that is of no importance: real children and adopted children are the
same thing in the Lycosa's eyes.

One would like to know if, apart from my artifices, in circumstances
where I do not interfere, the good-natured dry-nurse sometimes burdens
herself with a supplementary family; it would also be interesting to
learn what comes of this association of lawful offspring and strangers. I
have ample materials wherewith to obtain an answer to both questions. I
have housed in the same cage two elderly matrons laden with youngsters.
Each has her home as far removed from the other's as the size of the
common pan permits. The distance is nine inches or more. It is not
enough. Proximity soon kindles fierce jealousies between those
intolerant creatures, who are obliged to live far apart, so as to secure
adequate hunting-grounds.

One morning, I catch the two harridans fighting out their quarrel on the
floor. The loser is laid flat upon her back; the victress, belly to
belly with her adversary, clutches her with her legs and prevents her
from moving a limb. Both have their poison-fangs wide open, ready to
bite without yet daring, so mutually formidable are they. After a
certain period of waiting, during which the pair merely exchange threats,
the stronger of the two, the one on top, closes her lethal engine and
grinds the head of the prostrate foe. Then she calmly devours the
deceased by small mouthfuls.

Now what do the youngsters do, while their mother is being eaten? Easily
consoled, heedless of the atrocious scene, they climb on the conqueror's
back and quietly take their places among the lawful family. The ogress
raises no objection, accepts them as her own. She makes a meal off the
mother and adopts the orphans.

Let us add that, for many months yet, until the final emancipation comes,
she will carry them without drawing any distinction between them and her
own young. Henceforth, the two families, united in so tragic a fashion,
will form but one. We see how greatl