TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. 101 



conclusion from what takes place when we dig out a 

 spider, as to what would occur if she were besieged by 

 one of her natural enemies, such as ichneumons, sand- 

 wasps, centipedes (Scoloj^endra), small lizards &c.* 



Let us suppose, however, that one of these creatures 

 has found its way into the nest and is crawling down 

 the tube. What will probably happen? Why, in 

 the first place, the spider will slam the second door in 

 the face of the intruder, and then, if worsted in the 

 pushing match which follows, quickly draw this door 

 back again and run up into the safety branch, when 

 the enemy, after descending precipitately to the bottom 

 of the main tube, will look in vain for the spider as 

 it searches on its way up for the secret passage now 

 closed by its trap-door. This is but a purely imaginary 

 case, and it may be that the branch has some wholly 

 different purpose. 



It seems very improbable, however, that it should 

 be mainly intended as a safety place for the eggs or 

 offspring ; at least if this were the case we should not 

 expect to find it, as v/e do, in the nests of very young 

 spiders (fig. B, Plate IX.), which could have no use 

 for it. 



The large spider and its nest figured at A and A 3 

 in Plate IX. were taken at Mentone on March 17, 

 1872, and the following is the technical description of 

 the species, written by Mr. Pickard-Cambridge : — 



Nemesia Meridionalis. Plate IX. 



Syn. Mygale mei-idionalis (Costji). Fauna del Regno di Napoli, 

 p. 14, PI. I., figs. 1-4, ad partem. 



Female adult, length 11 to 13 lines. 



This spider is very nearly allied to N'. ccementaria both in 

 general structvire and colours, but it may be distinguished by the 



* For some account of the principal enemies of spiders generally, see p. 134. 



