132 TENANT fl OF AN OLD FARM. 



track of the tube as the earth is cut awa}" ; a third to 

 prevent the spider's escape. 



"By the way, I was once led upon an interesting ob- 

 servation by this mode of tilUng up tlie burrows. 

 Having a desire to keej) a turret spider under close 

 stud}', I cut out a burrow and took it home, preserved 

 entire in the midst of the sod in which it had been dug. 

 The spider was shut in by the cotton forced into the 

 opening, and was kept in by a cotton plug in the lower 

 part of the tube. Having snugly domiciled the exile 

 by inserting her nest into fresh soil and sod packed in a 

 half-keg, I removed the cotton from the upper part of 

 the burrow, and left the occupant to work according to 

 her own fancy. I was compelled to be absent for three 

 days, and when I left home the spider was engaged in 

 pulling out the cotton plug which had been placed in 

 the bottom of the tube. Several pellets were airead}' 

 scattered around the turret. On my return I found the 

 tower strangely transformed ; the whole interior was 

 lined with the cotton, which extended an inch or more 

 below the surface and lipped over the top-wall. This 

 novel lining was laid on as smoothly as though done by 

 the delicate hand of an upholsterer." 



" Yer}- strange, indeed !" the Doctor exclaimed. "A 

 most admirable instinct ! Although, perhaps, it is 

 hardl}' after the manner of what I have thought an in- 

 stinctive act to be. Certainly there could have been no 

 hereditary tendency to such a use of the cotton libre. 

 What think you?" 



" Undoubtedl}' our spider had come upon now cxpe- 



