Observations on the Habits of Mygale. 1 69 



examine another with greater precision from within. This being 

 effected by cutting off the top of" one of these nests at about the 

 dej)tli of an inch, I found the inside perfectly secured ; not, as 1 

 had supposed, by an assemblage of threads connecting the front 

 of the valve with the lining of the tube, but by a complete tapestry 

 thrown over the whole orifice of the tube in connexion with the 

 operculum, so that the interior more resembled the top of a 

 thimble, the texture being at the same time of the most delicate 

 whiteness, and firm as that usually presented by the bulbous 

 interior portion of the opercula. 



I cannot say that the patience of these spiders had not been 

 exhausted by my repeated experiments, although from a similar 

 circumstance having taken place about the same time in several 

 nests, the inmates of some of which had been comparatively less 

 inconvenienced, I am rather disposed to attribute this proceeding 

 to the ordinary inspirations and habits of their race. 



I now determined to notice during how long a period this 

 seclusion might last, the more especially as the powers of absti- 

 nence of these insects had already attracted my attention, not 

 only from having never observed these spiders in quest of food, 

 but from the very position in which six or eight of these nests 

 had all along remained, deep in a box which had stood for six 

 months on an elevated ballustrade upon the first floor, where, at 

 all events, the supply of food must have been exceedingly limited, 

 without any apparent effect, however, upon the usual corporature 

 of the inmates. 



It was not until the end of October that the valves were set 

 free, at which period I again cut off the top of one which re- 

 mained closed, and found it in the state before described, the 

 spider being in perfect health, and presenting the usual plump- 

 ness of aspect. I did not, however, find any progeny in either of 

 the nests. 



Other six months have since elapsed, the box occupying the 

 same place as before, and on observing the nests, I find four still 

 tenanted, with the spiders in good condition, the opercula being, 

 however, in a somewhat defective state from frequent handling, 

 although the required preparations will doubtless be readily 

 effected, so soon as the earth may be brought to a convenient 

 state by proper watering, the covered position of the box having 

 protected it from the ordinary atmospheric influences. 



It cannot be doubted, that very many circumstances connected 

 with the habits of these extraordinary insects still demand fur- 

 ther inquiry, and in apologizing for the imperfect state in which 



