14 



HARDWICKE'S SC 1EN CE - GO SSIP. 



[Jan. ], 1S6S. 



spiders. When I have accidentally injured the 

 nests and separated the eggs of several which I have 

 removed to glass cases, the mothers have always 

 carefully gathered the eggs together, and suspending 

 them in the most sheltered spot, have collected such 

 small particles of matter as could be used to form 

 some protection from the light. 



Fig. 5. Nest of twigs, &c, artificially supplied. 



But it is time to speak of the singular structure 

 which the creature fabricates. This is a tube of a 

 conical form, varying in length from one to two and 

 a half inches, closed above, but open at the lower 

 end; the diameter at the mouth being about half 

 an inch. The materials of which it is composed 

 externally are small particles of hardened earth- 

 pebbles, twigs, withered leaves, &c, rather slightly 

 attached by threads : this tube is lined with silk, 

 forming a comfortable home for Mrs. Theridion's 

 large family. However irregular in appearance the 

 nest may be externally, the interior is always beauti- 

 fully smooth. 



Although last year I found but one nest in my 

 garden at Brixton, they have been numerous enough 

 during the past summer and autumn. I have ex- 

 amined GO or 7", and have kept some dozen of 

 them under glass cuses. Nearly the whole of these 

 nests were suspended to the underside of the leaves 

 of the raspberry, gooseberry, &e, at a distance of 

 from two to four inches from the earth, — in a few 

 instances suspended near the angles of an old wall. 



When constructed above the soil, earth and pebbles 

 alone were the materials used ; when built near 

 the wall, small particles of mortar, &c. These are 

 the most regular iu form. When withered leaves 

 were near, these and small twigs were freely used ; 

 nests formed of such materials being the least sym- 

 metrical. Eigs. 2 and 3, sketched from specimens 

 now before me, represent these two classes. 



Wishing to test the building capabilities of these 

 little architects, I have supplied those kept in con- 

 finement with small twigs cut into lengths of about 

 one-eighth of an inch, mixing with them a number of 

 larger pieces. 



Figs. 6. and 7. Nests in course of construction. 



Contrary to my expectation, the smallest pieces 

 are not often selected, and frequently apparently 

 most unsuitable pieces are chosen. Eigs. 4 and 5 are 

 examples of nests formed of these twigs. The upper 

 parts (a) were built before I transferred them to 

 cases ; fig. 4 was constructed in the course of three 

 weeks; fig. 5 was built by a wonderfully industrious 

 mother of two large families : she is still in my pos- 

 session, and has since made a neat little residence of 

 particles of chalk, and is carefully guarding a cocoon 

 of yellowish-white eggs. The mode of constructing 

 these fragile dwellings is remarkable. 



Fig. S. Irregular structure. 



Whilst the eggs remain unhatched, the nest 

 seldom exceeds one inch in length ; no sooner, how- 

 ever, does the careful mother find that she has to 

 accommodate a large family, than a building impulse 

 appears to seize her, and she may be observed on 

 some occasion, perhaps after a long rest, to descend 

 suddenly to the earth ; she then takes a seemingly 

 purposeless scamper over the materials beneath her 

 nest, and passing many twigs, &c, apparently fit for 

 her purpose, without any attempt to examine their 

 weight or size, fixes upon a twig or other object which 

 often appears disproportionate to her size and 

 strength, and attaching a line to it, as quickly 

 scrambles back again, dragging the twig after her. 



