246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of this tube visible on the bank is about two inches in length, 

 pendant, and always inflated; it is of a darker colour than 

 the subterranean portion of the tube, and agrees in this 

 respect with the general surface of the bank. I took home 

 one of these lubes in a collapsed state, or with the sides 

 pressed together, and having the spider at the extremity. On 

 opening the box I perceived a movement throughout the 

 tube, as if it were undergoing the process of inflation ; this 

 soon subsided. The next morning, however, I was surprised 

 to see the tube inflated throughout its entire length, more 

 especially at that end which had been exposed on the bank. 

 How can the spider effect this? In some of the tubes it is 

 very difficult to discover any external aperture; but, in that 

 portion which is exposed and is distended more than the 

 rest, I sometimes discovered one or more minute openings, 

 protected or covered by a little valve or door. In some nests 

 these openings are not to be detected; when present they 

 open towards the bank. Although very loosely constructed 

 at the lower extremity, I do not think there is an opening 

 there, except when the spider is deepening her burrow ; or, I 

 think, in some instances, the spiders would have escaped 

 through it when 1 extracted the sack. This was never the 

 case." 



This process of inflation is one of the greatest possible 

 interest. Although, through the courtesy and kindness of 

 Mr. Brown, I am possessed of ample materials for doing so, 

 I never could discover the mode of inflation. The object 

 was more easy to account for, since the adhesive nature of 

 the silken lining of the sack rendered the walls very liable to 

 cohere, and thus the tubular character of the structure would 

 be destroyed. 



Mr. Brown most kindly sent me living specimens, in order 

 that I might examine them for myself; which I did with 

 great deliberation and care, hut without obtaining any 

 further information. I particularly directed my attention to 

 the subject of food, Mr. Brown having conceived the idea 

 that the spider fed on earth-worms. This idea seems to arise 

 from his having found a mangled earth-worm, in connection 

 with the tube, during the course of his diggings and investi- 

 gations ; and more especially from his having been unable 

 to find the wings, legs, or other parts of insects, attached to 



