“Mr. Pocock has suggested that the attitude of observant interest on the part of the female spider might be taken to indicate that she was preparing to spring upon her mate and devour him; or that it might simply mean that she was warily guarding herself from his approach. Neither of these suppositions is admissible. In some species the male is not attacked by the female, and when she does wish, as frequently happens, either to avoid or to destroy him, her attitude is totally different. In the former case she turns about and runs rapidly away, or suspends herself by a thread of web. In the second, there is a contraction of all the muscles, the legs are drawn together, and in this crouching position she creeps slowly toward him, as she might if he were a fly, only with something more malignant in her aspect. When she takes this stand the male incontinently flees. When, on the contrary, the female is interested in the male display, she seems perfectly absorbed in watching him, the muscles are all relaxed, unconscious of herself she directs her glance now here, now there, as he moves about; as he continues his mad antics, her appearance gives every indication of pleasurable excitement, and as he comes closer and closer, she yields herself to the impulses which he has awakened in her, and, as in _pulex_, joins in his dance and whirls around and around as though intoxicated. We claim, then, to have completely answered Mr. Wallace’s first objection.” (Peckham, _loc. cit._, pp. 145, 146.) Finally, in regard to the specific character of the display of the males, the Peckhams make the following significant statement: