190 SUPPLEMENT TO 



probably in function also, and I would propose to 

 distinguish it provisionally as ^ho, funnel tyjje. 



Now the female Cyrtaucheniits is, like its near rela- 

 tives the Nemesias, a sluggish and rather helpless 

 creature, and shows no apparent physical superiority 

 which might countenance its dispensing with the 

 methods of concealment which form the characteristic 

 habit of the group. 



How then does this spider manage to escape its 

 many enemies, especially the insidious attacks of 

 the insects of the Sphex and Ichneumon families, which 

 certainly abound in Morocco ? 



Mr. Wallace, to whom I put the question, suggested 

 that this species may perhaps be chiefly nocturnal in 

 its habits, and that, if this is the case, the bright 

 M^hite and flower-like tube of the nest may possibly 

 serve to attract night flying insects, which would thus 

 become its prey. 



In any case, whether we can discover them or not, 

 some curious points of difference must exist between 

 this spider aud its allies, which secure to it a com- 

 parative immunity. 



It appears to me that there are few questions 

 which can be of greater interest to the naturalist 

 than those which have to do with the conditions de- 

 termining the existence of a given species in a given 

 place. 



Of the questions, Who are your relatives ? Where 

 do they live? and How are you able to live here? 

 surely the last is not the least important. 



And, if we wish to try to answer this question, we 

 must do all in our power to find out how the habits 

 and conditions of life of the creature in question. 



