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detect their whereabouts, as the doors are made of the 

 material of the surrounding soil and simulate exactly its 

 appearance. They usually select for their homes earthen 

 banks, such as we may find bordering roads or deep worn 

 lanes, but it is not impossible that they may make their 

 nests on the level ground, but they have not yet been found 

 in such a position. 



The difficulty of finding these nests is shown by an in- 

 teresting anecdote related of Mr. Moggridge who, when 

 visiting Marseilles with one of his sons, called at the museum 

 there, to see the entomological Curator, and asked him 

 whether trap-door spiders were found in the neighboui-hood. 



To this question the Curator said he could confidently 

 answer no, as he took a great interest in these creatures 

 and had repeatedly searched for them. 



Mr. Moffofridffe on leavino; the museum said to his son, 

 " Now let us go and try what we can do," and the result of 

 their search was so successful that they were able to present 

 the astonished Curator next day, with several specimens 

 got in the immediate vicinity. 



It would appear that the best indications to guide a 

 searcher are to look out for the little round doors that often 

 strew the sides of the banks where these spiders are located. 



The doors being but frail soon wear out and give way, 

 but the spider seems to be able to quickly replace them, and 

 if a door be removed to-day, a new door, hinge, • and all will 

 be found hung on the following day, thus effectually guard- 

 ing again the privacy of its home. 



The nests of the trap-door spiders are now common objects 

 of sale in the towns of the Riviera, which is no doubt due 

 to the interest created by that most interesting work 

 published a few years ago by the late Mr. Moggridge, on 

 "Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders," the result of 

 his investigations while residing on the shores of the Medi- 

 terranean for the benefit of his health. 



