242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



dead, with which the attention of naturalists has been loo 

 exckisively occupied. Mr. Gosse writes as follows: — 



" In digging their mountain-gardens the negroes often 

 expose the curious subterranean nests of the trap-door 

 spider (Cteniza nidulans), many of which are brought to me. 

 This spider makes its tubular dwelling in soft earth, frequently 

 choosing cultivated ground, on account doubtless of this 

 quality. Each nest is cylindrical, or nearly so, from four to 

 ten inches deep, and about one inch in diameter ; the bottom 

 is rounded; and the top, which is at the surface of the soil, 

 is closed very accurately with a circular lid. They are not 

 all equally finished, some being much more compact, and 

 having the lid more closely fitted than others. Some have 

 irregular bulgings and ragged laminated ofF-sets on the outer 

 surface ; but all are smooth and silky on the inside. This 

 smoothness, however, does not preclude any little irregulari- 

 ties or unevenness of surface; nor is it glossy: its appearance 

 rather resembles that of paper, which has been wetted and 

 dried again ; it is always of a reddish buff hue, but the outside 

 is stained of the colour of the surrounding earth. The mouth 

 of the tube and the parts near it are very strong; the walls here 

 often having a thickness of from an eighth to a quarter of an 

 inch, but the lower parts are much thinner. The lid is con- 

 tinuous with the tube for about a third of its circumference, 

 and this part may be called the hinge, though it presents no 

 structure peculiar to itself; it is simply bent at a right angle, 

 as is manifest if a nest be cut longitudinally through with 

 scissors, the incision passing through the midst of the lid. 



"The mode of construction I judge, from examination of 

 many nests, to be this. The spider digs a cylindrical hole 

 in the moist earth with her jointed fangs or mandibles, 

 carrying out the fragments as they are dislodged. When the 

 excavation has proceeded a little way she begins to spin the 

 lining, which forms the dwelling. I conclude thus because 

 nests are occasionally found a few inches in length with the 

 lid and upper part perfect, but without any bottom, these 

 being evidently in course of formation. 1 suppose that she 

 weaves her silk at first in unconnected patches against the 

 earthy sides, perhaps where the mould is likely to fall in; and 

 thus I account for the loose, rough laminae of silk that are 

 always found projecting from the outer surface. These are 



