30 JOURNAL OF THE 



another at c ; it then removed the earth at d, making a 

 trench ; next it began the tube at c, but soon abandoned it, 

 began again at 6, restored d, and completed the nest in the 

 normal way. The following table shows the varying posi- 

 tions of the door when closed. 



Horizontal: Nos. i, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, lo, 1 1, 12, 14, 16, 

 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28. 



Sloping downward from hinge attachment: Nos. 3, 7, 8, 



15, 17, 22, 24, 26. 



Rising from hinge attachment : No. 13.- 



Slopi'hg door with hinge at one side : No. 25. 



Table showing the kinds of nests. 



Curved tube: Nos. 3, 8, 25. 



Straight tube: Nos. I, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 



16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28. 

 Trench with arched walls : Nos. 7, 15, 17, 22. 



Nests of mature spiders, of this genus made in captivity 

 present some of the variations mentioned above, as also 

 some of the nests found in a state of nature. 



One of the most interesting things which came under my 

 observation during the work of these spiders was the vary- 

 ing potency of instinct manifested in the aptness with which 

 each performed the task of building its home. This will be 

 best illustrated by giving a few of the more striking ex- 

 amples recorded in my notes. No. 6, was placed in the 

 bottle at 10.30 p. m. and began digging the tube in the nor- 

 mal way at 11. 15 p. m. It worked rapidly, sometimes 

 aking up and unloading a pellet of earth in 10 seconds. 

 Indeed it worked with as much ease, accuracy, and apparent 

 thoughtfulness, as the mature one which I have described in 

 the previous paper. Sometimes with its palpi it would flirt the 

 pellet across to the opposite side of the bottle. It began 

 making the trap-door at 12.30 a. m. and completed it at i a 

 m. ; one hour and forty minuts from the time it began work, 

 and two hours and thirty minutes from the time it was 

 placed in the bottle.^ During the operation every move- 

 ment seemed to facilitate the work. No. 19, was placed in 

 the bottle at 6.30 p. m. : my notes read as follows : — "Began 

 digging tube in normal way at 7.50. Does not seem to be 

 satisfied with work, and begins in another place. This is 

 done several times : 915 began making trap-door," etc. No. 



*One eompleted the work in one hour and 20 minutes ; and another 1 

 hour and 30 minutee. 



