TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. 219 



Four claj's before the cell was commenced, the 

 spicier had covered the under surface of the gauze 

 with a semi-transparent film of a substance resem- 

 bling varnish, which formed a band about three inches 

 long by half an inch wide, close to where the rim 

 of the flower-pot threw the most shade. It was at 

 one extremity of this band that the silk-cell was 

 formed, but it is important to note that this band of 

 varnish was longer than the cell, which only measured 

 an inch and a quarter from end to end, for we shall see 

 that the layer of varnish was apparently laid with a 

 view to further operations. 



In four days after the completion of the cell its 

 form was modified, and, during the next ten days 

 (up to December 21st), the spider gradually thickened 

 the walls, and made the form of the cell more and 

 more cylindrical, sometimes closing and at other times 

 opening the extremities. 



Between December 14th and 25th, she lengthened 

 out the cell by spinning a cylindrical silk tube in pro- 

 longation of one end, and this tube followed the 

 course of the band of varnish, the whole measuring 

 three-and-a-half inches in length by about half an inch 

 in diameter. 



It would appear therefore from the correspondence 

 in length between the band of varnish and this silk 

 tube, that she had contemplated the construction of 

 the latter when she first commenced her work on 

 November 3rd. 



On January 19th the silk tube parted from 

 the gauze, leaving only the enlarged end which 

 formed the cell still adhering to it. On the 

 following day I observed the very curious fact 



