on the life-history of Atjjpus 2)icrns. 25 



As regards the feeding habits of this spider, I have not 

 much to add ; but one interesting experiment might be 

 mentioned: — On July 22nd, 1888, a warm, sultry 

 morning, after heavy rain the previous night, all my 

 home colony had distended their tubes, and made them 

 as attractive as possible to all inquisitive tiies. I caught 

 one, and held it to the longest tube ; the spider came up, 

 seized it, and dragged it through and down. I quickly 

 caught another blow-fly — held it to the same tube ; the 

 sjjider, coming up to repair the hole, but ifinding another 

 fly there, she seized it and dragged it through the hole 

 already made, and down to her larder. I immediately 

 caught another blow-fly, and as quickly held it to the 

 hole ; and again the spider came up, seized it, and dis- 

 appeared. I did the same up the garden for another 

 blow-fly, and before the spider had returned another fly 

 was ready for her, which she soon observed and seized. 

 I returned to look for another blow-fly, and ran back 

 with it, and for the fifth time the spider seized and 

 dragged her prey down ; and for the sixth time I ran to 

 look for another meal, and back again in double-quick 

 time. The spider did not keep me waiting long, and 

 was evidently getting a little puzzled, and, like mj'self, 

 excited ; however, she took the fly, and I departed once 

 more and managed to capture another victim, reaching 

 the tube just in time to ofter it. It was not refused, but 

 snapped at and pulled down ; and I hurried away and 

 back again with one more fly, and the spider again 

 accepted it with a snap of her jaws, retiring gracefully 

 backwards, and I forwards to catch another blow-fly ; 

 this I did, and once more was in time for the spider, who 

 seized this the ninth blow-fly with lightning-like rapidity, 

 and disappeared. I ran and searched for another fly, 

 but, as may be imagined, they had been so frequently 

 disturbed that I had difliculty in obtaining one ; and 

 when I returned to the tube the wily spider had com- 

 jiletely covered in the rent. I continued to knock with 

 the blow-fly, and the spider came up, pulled the tube in, 

 and held it, as much as to say, " I have had enough, go 

 away"; and I went, wondering much what she would do 

 with nine blow-flies. Next morning she had thrown five 

 sucked skins out ! The time occupied in this great 

 repast was just 45 minutes. 



On Sept. 7th, 1891, one of the very large tubes dug up 



