INSECT TROGLODYTES. 129 



claimed the doctor, ' ' and hm- pluck de.scrv^es a much better 

 monument. However, I have no doubt she and her boys 

 enjoyed their rude life quite as much as their descendants 

 do these days of civilized abundance. There is a streak 

 of the nomad in most men. Where was ever the boy 

 who didn't long for a Robinson Crusoe's cave ? There 

 was always a fascination for me, when a lad in Ohio, 

 in certain caves among the rock}' masses of the Tvittle 

 Beaver. In those days the chief charm of a fishnig 

 jaunt was the fire and the noon lunch in caverns or 

 under jutting rocks. I am sure that I should have 

 greatly enjoyed those old pioneer days, so I will waste 

 no pity on the hardships of good Jane Townes. But 

 I must claim the other part of your promise. AVhere 

 are the traces of those cave-men more ancient than 

 the men of the Dordogne ? I am eager to inspect 

 them." 



"Not so fast, Doctor. I did, indeed, promise you a 

 sight of most ancient cave dwellers, but I said not a 

 word of cave-DiCH. My troglodytes are of the insect 

 world, and, see there ! Your foot has well nigh trodden 

 upon the entrance to one of them." 



The Doctor started back suddenly and looked down- 

 ward. I stooped at his side and pointed out a little 

 structure of straw that marked the cave of a turret 

 spider, Tarentula arenicola. (Fig. 44;.) 



"Come, my good friend, '"I continued, "don your spec- 

 tacles once more and join me in this search. Here is one 

 of my ancient cave-dwellers, and I warrant that its 

 ancestors were here to gaze in dumb wonder at the in- 



