TK\1'-1H)()R Sl'lDKk-. (>07 



developed specimens. In most cases the lids are slightly 

 weighted by means of two carefully-prepared masses of clay 

 placed one on each side of the sinus at the margin of the lid 

 opposite the hinge. 



reeding Time. —On one occasion I placed a case-bearing 

 caterpillar beside a nest kept for observation under glass. Next 

 morning the case, torn and empty, was found l)eside one of the 

 doors of the nest. Another specimen in ca])tivity was found 

 \\'andering about at night near its nest, one lid of which was 

 standing right open. These two instances would seem to indi- 

 cate that night is the time for feeding. 



General. — On several occasions 1 have put a large blue- 

 bottle fly in at one door of a nest, with the invariable result that 

 the s])ider Ixilted out, evidently in terror, at the other door. 

 Small houscflies. however, were accepted readily. 



The frequent opening of one lid annoyed one spider so 

 much that it blocked up that entrance with earth and web, and 

 used only one door afterwards. 



One si;ider during the egg-laying period wove a web across 

 the opening, under the lid, but not attached to it. Whether this 

 IS usual or not 1 cannot say, as I have never before found nests 

 with eggs or young. 



When a spider is evicted from her nest, she seldom shows 

 fight, as Sfasiinopns usually docs. 



Males. — I have found only two males of this species in the 

 months of Feliruary and March, both occupying nests exactly 

 the same as those inhaliited by females. 



Occurrence of Nests. — Nests usually occur singly. On no 

 occasion have I found more than three nests at the same spot. 



MoGGRiDGRA Crudeni Ile'witl I V\. 2"- P> and C). 

 (Ann. Transr. Mus. (1913) 4 [i].) 



This species was first found in earth-filled rock crevices 

 and in close proximity to the nests of M. rnpicola. The lids of 

 these were much thicker than those of M. rnpicola, and were 

 smooth-edged and not quite oval in shape. Since then I have 

 found many nests in the veld, under the protection of vegetation, 

 but possessing in most cases very distinctly crenated lids of the 

 D type. The tube is very short — seldom more than 2 inches 

 long — narrow at the mouth, and expanding into a fairly wide 

 chamber near the bottom, and lined with hard, smooth, felted 

 web. The mouth of the tube has a horizontal expanded collar, 

 'ilie central part of the interior of the lid is white, and j)rojects 

 somewhat. This, coupled with the overlapping of the scalloped 

 edge, leaves a concave rim. which fits on to the expanded portion 

 of the mouth of the tube. 



Lid Building. — On one occasion I put six females into holes 

 bored for them in earth in a tin. This was at 6 p.m. Very 

 soon all were busy lining the holes with web. By 9 p.m. two 



