242 NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. XIV. 



but even when this calamity happens, the cunning 

 creature is not altogether destitute of resources 

 which avail it for some time longer. A crafty old 

 spider, having no longer the means of securing a 

 subsistence, seeks out a young one, to which it 

 communicates its wants and necessities ; on which 

 the other, either out of respect for old age, or from 

 a dread of old pincers, resigns its place, and spins 

 a new web in another situation. But if the old 

 spider can find none of its species which will, either 

 from love or fear, resign its net, it must then perish 

 for want of subsistence. 



A species of spider {My gale cemcntaria), inhabit- 

 ing the south of Europe, constructs a cylindrical 

 cavity more than two feet long, in some sloping 

 bank, calculated to let the water run off; the inside; 

 is lined with a web of fine silk. But in addition to 

 the sagacity of choosing a steep bank and the luxury 

 of furnishing its retreat with silk, this spider has the 

 power of constructing a regular door : for this pur- 

 pose it joins and cements layers of clay or chalk 

 with its glutinous secretions, and thus contrives to 

 make a door exactly circular, and so nicely fitting 

 into the aperture of the cell, as to prevent its being 

 distinguished by the casual observer from the sur- 

 rounding earth. But the most marvellous circum- 

 stance yet remains to be told— the sagacious crea- 

 ture positively fabricates a hinge of silk, which it 

 invariably fixes to the highest side of the aperture, 

 so that it can very easily be pushed open from 

 within by the insect, and shuts by its own weight. 

 Thus barricadoed, the gallery furnishes a secure 

 habitation for the male and female, with twenty or 

 thirty of their young. No noise however loud, no 

 thumping however violent, will bring the cunning 

 inhabitant out of its cell; but if the least attempt 

 be made to force the trap-door, a curious scene 

 takes place — the spider immediately runs to it, and 

 fixing some of its legs to the silk which lines the 



