02 — 



lining at the upper part of the tube. When the viscid fluid coming from 

 the spinerets cools before it is applied loan object it forms a broad band 

 or ribbon as it might be i died; by elevating and depressing the bod) 



mdicularly as shown in fig. i-t. and touching the spinerets here and 

 to the wall ol the tube this ribbon of silk is fastened. By mi 

 around the tube at the same time the lining is mplete for 



the perpendiculai distan< e covered by the spider in its movements. Some- 

 limes instead oi elevating and depressing in the manner just described the 

 ler will move around the tube fastening the ribbon in circles. 



Figs. 15 and 16 represent a novel way of excavating a hole which 1 

 witnessed in the case of a mature spider. With its legs as supporters on 

 each side of the tube it would elevate its abdomen in the air and hook its 

 mandibles in the earth at the bottom of die hole; then revolving through 

 a quadrant about the axis at <7. fig. 15, it would bring the earth to tin- 

 surface and push it off with its palpi as shown in fig. 16. 



From this study we ma}- conclude the young oi' trap-door spiders 

 build their nests instinctively; that males as well as females build trap- 

 door nests before the sexual character and habits are well developed, 

 winch in the case of the males make a somewhat wandering habit neces- 

 sary in order to find the females; that young and old van- in making their 

 nests from the normal type, so that the position or relative sloping of the 

 door or tube could not be of any value in the classification: that this 

 species does not use its legs to aid in spinning the lining to its tube, and 

 that they spin the lining at the upper end of the tube first; and lastly that 

 they vary in the degree of skill manifested as artificers and the maturity 

 of instinctive power.* 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 

 Fig. 1. a, Young trap-door spider, natural size, b, section of nest with open 

 door, built in normal way, also natural size. Figs. 2 and 3 curved tube with slant 

 ing door. Fig. 4, trench with wall each side seen from one end. Fig. 5, arch con 

 necting walls. Fig. 6, same, closed at one end. Fig. 7, same, with nap door built 

 at the other end. Fig. 8, another built on same plan, but the lit oj enin ; not quite 

 .1 loose flap at a. Fig. 9, tube dug between two walls, hinge at a, disl 

 ■ al b. Fig. 10, curved tube with door hung so as to swing to tire right and 

 left. Fig, [I, section of bottle showing work of spider: a, wall, b, pellets ol earth 

 carried up and stuck to the glass, c, nest, a tower against the side of the bottle. Fig. 

 12, nest showing concentric "lines of growth," in the trap-door. F'ig. 13, /;, first hole 

 dug by spider, c, second one, d, wall between which was removed making of the ex 

 cavation a trench, subsequently </. was restored and nest built in normal way ai b. 

 l-'ig. 14. spiders represented in act of spinning silken lining to the upper end of the 

 . 15 and 16, adult spider taking a novel method of excavating a hole. 

 Note. — The doors of all the young trap-door spiders' nests are very thin, from 

 2 to 3 mm. in thickness. One spider worked so rapidly that it would sometimes 

 pick up and unload a pel th in 8 seconds. As a rule they required a much 



longer time than this. 



* All of the observations made tisa oi in the preparation of this article were made 

 on individuals of the same specie De criptions of the new species collected, their 

 uid food habits, 1 hope to have published in a subsequent article. 



