TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. 77 



Other spiders again, such as Theridion* suspend by 

 a long and delicate cord of silk a minute balloon, 

 scarcely larger than a seed-pearl, containing their 

 eggs, which sways to and fro in the lightest breath 

 of air. But admirable as these cocoons and geo- 

 metrical snares are, the homes of these and of spiders 

 generally do not exhibit much contrivance or ingenuity, 

 or cannot at any rate be ranked in the same category 

 as those of the trap-door spider. But it may be asked, 

 why should we admire the one more than the other, 

 since it is clear that the most squalid and mean- 

 looking nest exactly serves the purpose of its occu- 

 pant, whether for shelter or defence, and in many cases 

 a spider might even say with truth that as for her 

 home it would not be so safe if it were not so dirty. 



But the answer is simple : the trap-door spider's 

 dwelling is to that of common spiders what the 

 Mont Cenis tunnel is to other tunnels, and some- 

 thing besides. 



What delights us is to see how by clever con- 

 trivance and great perseverance new and multiplied 

 difficulties have been overcome, and dangers avoided, 

 and the interest aroused is exactly proportionate to 

 the amount of these difficulties and dangers. 



It is hoped that the following pages and their ac- 

 companying illustrations will vindicate the claims of 

 these spiders to the marked attention and admiration 

 which is here asserted to be their due as architects 

 and engineers. 



There is but one British or North European re23re- 

 sentative of the Territelarice — namely, Atypiis piceus (or 



* Theridion variegatum (Bl.). Ero tuberculata, Koch. 



