206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1888. 



III. USE AND MANNER OF SPINNING THE TUBULAR NEST. 



Immense numbei-s of these nests were found throughout the woods 

 on the grounds of Dr. Wittfeld. Spiders when found within the 

 tuBes were usually clinging to the inside, a short distance from the 

 top, or were found in the same position underneath the soil. The 



most persistent observation 

 at various hours, night and 

 day, failed to uncover any 

 of the spider's habits as to 

 capture of pi'ey, the mode 

 of building the tube, or the 

 uses of the tube in the life 

 economy of the creature. 

 I have no doubt, however, 

 that in the uses of its pecu- 

 liar web the Purseweb spi- 

 der will be found to resem- 

 ble closely her British 

 congener, Atypus piceus. 

 According to Mr. Fredrick 

 Enock,^ this aranead cap- 

 tures the insects that crawl 



Fig. 4. An underground terminus or den, wiih branches. upOU the OUtCr SUrfaCC of 



her tube by striking them through the silk from the inside, and 

 when they are thus secured cutting a vent in the tissue large enough 

 to drag the prey through into the tube. This is a most curious and 

 interesting habit, the existence of which was established with toler- 

 able certainty by Mr Enock by various observations and experi- 

 ments. I may venture to repeat the substance of one of these. 



A large blow fly was held by its wings and permitted to crawl 

 upon a bank until it walked upon one of the tubes of Atypus. The 

 spider ascended a little distance and returned. The head of the fly 

 was then rubbed against the tube a number of times, the tube mean- 

 Avhile becoming impercej)tably distended, indicating the spider's 

 approach. After a moment's pause the fimgs were thrust through 

 the fly, followed by a crunching sound as the spider closed and 

 almost crossed the top fangs around its prey. The observer released 

 his hold upon the fly, and immediately the left hand fang was with- 

 drawn just into the tube which was torn, and the fang refixed into 

 the Hy. The right fang was then withdrawn and quickly seized the 



1 The Life History of Atypus piceus Sulz., by Fiedc. Enock. 

 actions of the Entomological Society of London, 1885, p. 389. 



The Trans- 



