. The study of animal life. Zoology. CHAP. VI The Domestic Life of Animals 103 ing the first two pairs of legs up and under, leaned so far over as to be in danger of losing his balance, which he only maintained by sidling rapidly toward the lowered side. The palpus, too, on this side was turned back to correspond to the direction of the legs nearest it. He moved in a semicircle of about two inches, and then instantly reversed the position of the legs and circled in the opposite direction, gradually approaching nearer and nearer to the female. Now she dashes toward him, while he, raising his fi
. The study of animal life. Zoology. CHAP. VI The Domestic Life of Animals 103 ing the first two pairs of legs up and under, leaned so far over as to be in danger of losing his balance, which he only maintained by sidling rapidly toward the lowered side. The palpus, too, on this side was turned back to correspond to the direction of the legs nearest it. He moved in a semicircle of about two inches, and then instantly reversed the position of the legs and circled in the opposite direction, gradually approaching nearer and nearer to the female. Now she dashes toward him, while he, raising his first pair of legs, extends them upward and forward as if to hold her off, but withal slowly retreats. Again and again he circles from side to side, she gazing toward him in a softer mood, evidently admiring the grace of his antics. This is repeated until we have counted one hundred and eleven circles made by the ardent little male. Now he approaches nearer and nearer, and when almost within reach whirls madly around and around her, she joining and whirling with him in a giddy maze. Again he falls back, and resumes his semi- circular motions with his body tilted over; she, all excitement, lowers her head and raises her body, so that it is almost vertical. Both draw nearer, she moves slowly under him, he crawling over her head, and the mating is ; The males are quarrel- some and fight with one another ; but after watching "hundreds of seemingly terrible battles" between the males of twelve differ- ent species, the obser- vers were forced to the conclusion that " they are all sham affairs gotten up for the pur- pose of displajring be- fore the females, who commonly stand by in- terested ; "It seemed cruel sport at first to put eight or ten males (of Dendry- phantes capitatus) into a box to see them fight, but it was soon apparent that they were veiy prudent little fellows, and were fully conscious that ' he who fights and runs a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1892
