ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 27 



2nd, do the males of trap-door spiders make a nest with a 

 trap-door when very young ? To the first question we 

 would almost unhesitatin<^ly reply in the affirmative, without 

 direct observation. In regard to the second, it is well 

 known by those who have given much attention to the 

 habits of trap-door spiders, that the mature males, at least, 

 do not build trap-door nests, but seek a hiding place under 

 stones, logs, etc. 



There is also another question as to the constancy with 

 which species follow a unifonit type in the construction of 

 their nests. Some naturaHst make the different kinds of 

 nests a partial basis for classification, and others are looking 

 for differential characters manifested in the variationsof the 

 trap-door; whether the door is horizontal ; the hinge lower 

 or higher than the distal part of the door sloping one 

 side, etc. 



Tlie object of this paper is to present the variations pro- 

 duced by a family of 2(S young trap-door spiders, in the 

 building of their nests, which I have carefully observedand 

 noted. I trust also to show that, from the labors of these 

 little creatures, and of several mature ones, which I have 

 had in captivity, a great deal of light is thrown on the 

 questions stated above. 



The family was captured by D. E. Woodly, student at 

 Chapel Ilill.'N. C, March 17, 1886. The mother had either 

 deserted her children, or liad met with her death. The tube 

 was doorless'and near a decaying stump. The 28 childre n 

 were living ))eacefully together in the silken cocoon which 

 had contained the e^i^s at the bottom of the tube. A fter 

 keeping them together in a small vial for one day, I prepared 

 a bottle of earth for each one. The bottles measure i Yz 

 inches in diameter by three inches deep. In each about 

 I Yi inches in depth of earth was placed. The earth was 

 moi.st, loose, but smoothed over and gently packed to furnish 

 a smooth surface for operations. 



The following table shows the time of beginning and com- 

 pletion of the work of each. In column 4 is given the time 

 when the work bei^an which was carried to completion. 

 Some began work earlier than here in dicated but aban- 

 doned it. 



