Miscellaneous, 495 



minutes to burrow to about the depth of three parts of its length. 

 I afterwards transferred it to a vase with sand to the depth of three 

 or four inches at the bottom ; in this it quickly disappeared, three 

 minutes sufficing to completely cover itself. In this vase it was that 

 I made the following observations on it. 



Its mode of mining is extraordinary : lying at the bottom of the 

 vase, it commenced proceedings by probing the sand around with its 

 third pair of feet, and inserting them to some depth in it ; when it 

 found a spot suited for the purpose, that is, free from any large 

 stones, it at once commenced excavating. These operations were 

 carried out by the external pedipalps, which are very long and 

 strong, and also by the first, third and fourth pairs of legs ; the 

 second pair of legs, as may be supposed, are for this purpose per- 

 fectly useless : they are as much as possible placed out of the way, 

 being bent up snugly with the hand turned backwards : the only 

 motion I could detect was a nervous action in the moveable finger, 

 constantly attempting to clutch objects, but not seizing anything. 

 The fifth pair of feet have a simple though useful office assigned 

 them : it is to support the body in the proper position until the 

 burrowing has progressed sufficiently to enable the burrower to do 

 without their support ; they are then immediately called into more 

 active employment, and assist in the work of excavation. The spot 

 for burrowing having been selected, the little animal steadies its 

 body by means of its fifth pair of legs, and this allows the greatest 

 freedom of action to the body. The pedipalps perform a prominent 

 part in the burrowing ; the nail on the last joint is curved slightly 

 forward, and the advantage of this is clearly seen, as in digging, the 

 pedipalps are forced into the sand or shingle, and are thus forced 

 forward and outwards, and they prevent the side of the burrow from 

 falling in ; the third and fourth pairs of feet are in constant motion, 

 probing the sand and loosening it, thus lightening the labour for the 

 pedipalps ; all these movements take place very regularly and at the 

 same time. A small hollow having been made, the animal raises its 

 body by means of its fifth pair of legs to nearly a right angle with 

 the bottom ; its eyes, which are very large and carried at right angles 

 with the body, are thus suddenly thrown forward with a spring in a 

 line with the rostrum, and the hollow is surveyed ; should it not be 

 of a sufficient depth the body is again lowered and the burrowing 

 continues, the eyes resuming their original position ; when the hole 

 is sufficiently deepened, the eyes are again brought forward, the 

 antennae are thrown back in a line with the body, and the animal 

 forces its head in the hole it has made ; this is facilitated by the 

 body being gradually raised by means of the fifth pair of legs ; the 

 head being inserted, the burrowing continues with increased energy, 

 and the animal assumes the position as in photograph No. 2 ; this 

 view shows the sand which has been thrown up accumulated in a 

 heap under the body. 



I have occasionally found it continue in this position, but gene- 

 rally it burrows perpendicularly, until only the tips of the antennae 

 are visible. . 



