Ufe-hisfory of Atypus jnceus. 397 



inch wide, it commenced twisting its abdomen up and 

 over from side to side, each time fixing the ends of the 

 silk to the sandstone and floor, gradually moving up 

 towards the side of the pot, to which it fixed some 

 silken cords, but not so thickh' as at the lower end ; it 

 continued this twisting movement until it had roofed 

 itself in, thus forming an upright tube a quarter of an 

 inch long and full}^ one-sixteenth wide. The end fixed to 

 the pot was turned up very slightly, the other to the 

 sandstone and level of sand-line. The time occupied 

 was just one hour. I could see through the silk 

 distinctly, and, as the level of the sand was only one 

 inch and a half from the top of the pot, I was enabled 

 to fix m}' magnifier at the right focus for observing every 

 movement of the spider, which next walked to the lower 

 end and commenced biting the sand, taking one — two — 

 ten mouthfuls ; then, turning round, it proceeded to the 

 other end, when I saw it had a load of sand between its 

 falces, each grain of which it most deftly guided (I might 

 almost say Jiandlcd) with its fangs, literally pushing the 

 grains through the sides of the tube, the silk of which 

 was evidently adhesive, or else some viscid fluid was 

 ejected on to the sand. After exhausting its supply it 

 reversed its position, returned to the bottom, repeated 

 the action of biting the sand, turned round again with 

 its load, and distributed each grain in the most 

 methodical manner. Occasionall}^ after unloading, it 

 would put its fangs through the side and take hold of 

 some grain of sand on the outside, placing it in the 

 desired position ; then, withdrawing them, reversed its 

 position, bringing its spinners into action, strengthening 

 the walls with another layer of silk. I watched it for 

 just one hour and a half, at the end of which time it had 

 completely covered the silken tube with sand, every 

 grain of which it brought up between its falces from the 

 surface of the ground. I continued to watch, but could 

 only see the sand pushed through, and occasionally one 

 fang, or both, adjusting the grains. 



The next morning a small quantity of sand had been 

 forced out at the top end, showing that the industrious 

 little inmate had continued its labour during the night 

 by excavating into the sand, and this it continued to do 

 during the greater part of the da}'. The following night 

 it had lengthened the aerial portion of the tube, covering 



