414 Mr. F. Enock on the 



One of the questions asked by Mr. Moggridge is the 

 following: — "What is the precise structure of the nest 

 of Ati/pus, and are they always uuiform in character at 

 all seasons of the year?"* 



You will see b}'- the specimens upon the table that the 

 nest consists of a silken tube from seven to twelve inches 

 long, of which an inch and a half to two inches forms 

 the aerial portion ; this in the normal condition is 

 attached to the surrounding grass-stems or any pro- 

 jecting stone, and generally it simply follows the slant 

 of the bank ; but it is more often found hanging 

 clown, its frail attachment being easily broken by any 

 rolling stones. The use of this aerial portion is that it 

 really forms the snare of the spider, the delicate silken 

 lining being set in motion the instant an insect sets foot 

 upon it, the spider frequentl}' lying in ambush just at 

 the top of the subterranean part. 



This aerial part of the tube is not always uniform in 

 character at all seasons of the year. From April to 

 October it presents much the same appearance, nearly 

 alwa^'s distended, except in wet weather, when it becomes 

 flattened to the bank. Some writers have said it regains 

 its shape by injlation, but I am inclined to doubt the 

 power of the spider to raise sufficient wind to distend a 

 tube when flattened. 



After October the aerial portion is not distended, but 

 seems to shrink and become somewhat wrinkled ; and 

 after a heavy fall of snow or rain it is often flattened so 

 hard to the bank that it is most difficult to see. Dry, 

 frosty weather hardens the tube, so much so that when 

 warm weather sets in at the end of March the spider has 

 been unable to draw a fly through. 



During the past winter all the tubes in my garden- 

 colony have been dry and hard. The very heav}^ fall of 

 snow flattened ever}' one of those in an exposed position. 

 No attempt was made by the spiders to "inflate" them; 

 instead of this, as soon as the warm weather set in they 

 started making a new aerial tube, and this leads me to 

 speak about the hranclicd tubes, several of which I sent 

 to the Eev. 0. P. Cambridge some years ago ; and in an 

 article in the 'Annals and Magazine 'f for 1878 he 



* ' Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders' (Supplement), p. 187. 

 f O. P. Cainl)ri(li,a^ in Ann. & Miv^. N. 11., Feb., 1878. pp. lOG and 

 107. 



