Shemakesamealoffthemotherandadoptstheorphans。
Letusaddthat，formanymonthsyet，untilthefinalemancipationcomes，shewillcarrythemwithoutdrawinganydistinctionbetweenthemandherownyoung。Henceforth，thetwofamilies，unitedinsotragicafashion，willformbutone。Weseehowgreatlyoutofplaceitwouldbetospeak，inthisconnection，ofmother-loveanditsfondmanifestations。
DoestheLycosaatleastfeedtheyounglingswho，forsevenmonths，swarmuponherback？Doessheinvitethemtothebanquetwhenshehassecuredaprize？Ithoughtsoatfirst；and，anxioustoassistatthefamilyrepast，Idevotedspecialattentiontowatchingthemotherseat。Asarule，thepreyisconsumedoutofsight，intheburrow；butsometimesalsoamealistakenonthethreshold，intheopenair。Besides，itiseasytoreartheLycosaandherfamilyinawire-gauzecage，withalayerofearthwhereinthecaptivewillneverdreamofsinkingawell，suchworkbeingoutofseason。
Everythingthenhappensintheopen。
Well，whilethemothermunches，chews，expressesthejuicesandswallows，theyoungstersdonotbudgefromtheircamping-groundonherback。Notonequitsitsplacenorgivesasignofwishingtoslipdownandjoininthemeal。Nordoesthemotherextendaninvitationtothemtocomeandrecruitthemselves，norputanybrokenvictualsasideforthem。Shefeedsandtheotherslookon，orratherremainindifferenttowhatishappening。TheirperfectquietduringtheLycosa’sfeastpointstotheposessionofastomachthatknowsnocravings。