SOCIAL HABITS OF SPIDERS. 43 



Another observation looking in the same direction has been recorded 



since my work went to press. Rev. 0. P. Cambridge ^ describes a spider 



of the family Eresidse whose nest came under observation in the 



A Grega- London Zoological Society's Gardens. It was sent thither by 



nous Colonel Bowker from Durban to Lord Walsingham, who at Mr. 



j' . Camltridge's suggestion sent it to the Gardens. The nest con- 

 grade in ° ^"^ 



London tained from one hundred to one hundred and fifty living indi- 

 viduals of both sexes, some adult, some immature, and remained 

 in their temporary home for some time in an active and thriving state. 



The nest filled a box two feet long by nine inches wide and five inches 

 deep. No detailed description of the home or habits of the colony is given, 

 but it would appear to have been simply a mass of threads so thickly 

 woven that they formed in places a close tissue something like that which 

 Phidippus opifex (McCook) of California makes for herself on a much 

 smaller scale. (Vol. IL, page 150, Fig. 185.) That this -spider is a social 

 one may be inferred from the above scant description, and Mr. Cambridge's 

 statement that the sjiecies is " unique in its gregarious habits." He notes 

 that the individuals " appear to devour cockroaches and crickets, tearing 

 them to jiieces in concert." This statement, however, is somewhat neu- 

 tralized by the additional remark that each " carries off his share of the 

 prey, like a pack of hounds breaking up a fox." It is earnestly to be 

 hoped that detailed notes and drawings of this " family " have been 

 kept by some trustworthy observer in the Zoological Gardens. Such a 

 rare opportunity ought to have yielded data for definitely determining 

 this most interesting problem. 



• Proceed. Zool. Soc, London, 1889, pages 34, 42, pi. ii., Figs. 4 and 5. 



