L->4 Journal of Entomology and Zoology 



/ ycosa built neither web nor thread rope, but ran round and round 

 the jar. No attempt was made to build separate homes or pro- 

 tections. Phippdus after one day of outside life built small re- 

 treats such as the mature build under the rocks. Of course, the 

 nests were very small and thin, but they were exact duplicates of 

 the large ones. Three or tour little ones lived in the same retreat 

 but more often each had his own. Comstock claims they use these 

 nests as places to stay in while they moult. The nests were built 

 along the upper edge oi the jars and from the nest to the bottom 

 oi the jar was a line ot silk thread used as an elevator. The trap 

 door spiders stayed in the bottom ot the tunnel except when placed 

 in the sunshine; then the) spread all over the sides oi the tunnel 

 and especiall) around the edge ot the trap door. As a general 

 thing the young were \ er\ slow and sluggish in actions. The young 

 ot the trap door spider must be very slow to develop for they 

 showed no signs oi silk spinning nor any desire to go out oi the 

 parental tunnel. Some ot the young were removed when tour 

 months old and placed in a jar of dirt in order to see if they 

 would form small burrows ot their own. All oi them refused to 

 make an\ burrows and dried up on top ot the dirt. The young 

 ot about one year ot age were found in small burrows. Miss 

 Thompson in her observations on the trap door spiders. sa\s. 

 "After the hatching ot the eggs from seventy-five to one hundred 

 black and green spiderlings will be found occupying the maternal 

 nest. \\ 'hen these are a tew weeks old they leave the native burrow 

 and begin to excavate in sunny places, minute tubes ot their own. 

 Often a dozen such small abodes will be clustered about the old 

 trap door. These \ar\ greatly in si/e but all are quite perfect 

 m form." 



The actions ot the young dranea gemma were the most interest- 

 ing ot all the young. The instinct to use the spinnerets and to 

 make webs was strongly developed, for as soon as the young 

 emerged from the egg sac they began to spin. First a small thread 

 was put out and attached to the sides ot the jar and as soon as the 

 young had found a suitable place an orb web was begun. These 

 were very perfect, although not as large nor having as many com- 

 plications as the web ot the mature spider. Some ot the young 



