■i'KAr-i)()()!^ si'ini'iRS. (105 



Nests with several did lid? are often found, i^vidently 

 when a new lid is deemed necessary the tube is elongated beyond 

 the old lid, which is then left on the upper side of the tube, and 

 a new lid is constructed. 



The lid always hangs vertically, and consists of two well- 

 defined parts — a thin wafer-like disc, which fits closely into the 

 mouth of the tube, and to which the spider holds firmly when 

 Uie lid is disturbed, and a very heavy l)eYelled portion made of 

 web and earth. This hea\y part is attached to the disc at its 

 centre and hinge, but not at the margin. There are two holes 

 on the outer hollow surface of the bevelled part, which lead 

 through to the wafer portion, but of what use they are 1 cannot 

 conjecture, as they do not in any way communicate with the 

 interior of the tube, and in older nests they are often silted up. 

 These holes are to be seen in the very smallest lids, not luuch 

 more than an eighth of an inch across the hinge. The lid shutr^ 

 quite close on account of the weight of the bevelled part, which 

 is evidently expressly meant for that {)urpose. 



Lid Building. — On (October 28th I brought in a nest from 

 the veld, embedded it in earth in a box, and cut off the lid. In 

 order to observe it closely, 1 jilaced a good lens in front of the 

 nest, and used the light of a bright lamp. In a few moments 

 the spider came to the lidless mouth, at once turned on her 

 l)ack, and worked on the remains of the old hinge with fangs 

 and claws, evidently pre|)aring for the new lid. She then came 

 to the entrance, and carried in a pellet of soil in her fangs. 

 Turning on her back as before, she attached this to the l)ase of 

 the old hinge with claws and fangs, and fixed it with web. This 

 was done all along the base, after which she applied her spin- 

 nerets and spun several strand? of web beliind and along the 

 margin of the newly-attached earth, frequently carrying the 

 threads from the hinge along the roof of the tube. To these 

 new marginal strands fresh attachments of clay were made, and 

 after each the spinnerets were again used. Frequently the 

 spider was seen to knead the pellets with her fangs before fixing 

 them. After the foundation of the lid had been laid, the attach- 

 ments were made at the middle, and gradually the arc of a circle 

 was formed. \'ery often the whole fabric was pulled inwards 

 to ensure the free working of the hinge and the correct size of 

 door. When this thin lid completely filled the mouth of the 

 tube the spider closed it and rested from her labours — three and 

 a f[uarter hours after commencing work. 



It should be mentioned that each time the spider went to 

 collect earth she remained motioidess for a time at the mouth, 

 ])erhai)s making sure that all was safe. This seems to indicate 

 a certain degree of intelligence, but on the other hand, when 

 using her spinnerets, she fre(|uently extended her abdomen well 

 beyond the mouth of the tube in order to get longer strands of 

 web, therebv exposing the most vulnerable part of her body to 



