112 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



Exteriorly it is level with the ground, and the silk is 

 coated with earthy particles. In fact, all trace of the 

 work is completely obliterated. Travellers to the 

 West Indies describe the alarm they at first experi- 

 enced in seeing the earth open, a little lid lifted, and 

 a formidable-looking spider peep out of the hole. 



These tunnels are seldom situated in flat ground, 

 where the door would lie horizontally when closed. 

 A sloping or nearly vertical bank is usually chosen, 

 and the hinge is placed at the highest side of the 

 opening, so that the door when pushed up on the 

 entrance or exit of the owner falls to by its own 

 weight, ensuring concealment of the nest. The 

 edges of the door are accurately adjusted to the 

 bevelled lip of the tube, and offer a certain degree 

 of mechanical resistance to the entry of an enemy. 

 Should the spider be at home when his door is 

 touched, he is made aware of the impending danger 

 by the vibrations of the silken threads. Speeding to 

 the scene of action, he hooks his hind legs to the 

 lining of the lid, his fore-legs to the side of the tunnel, 

 and turning upon his back resists the threatened 

 invasion with all his might. Excessively bold and 

 courageous, he defends his territory with the greatest 

 pertinacity; nothing short of actual violence will in- 

 duce him to desert it. In some nests a row of minute 

 holes, as though pricked with a fine needle, is pierced 

 round the free edge of the lid, another row lies 

 immediately within the margin of the tube. It has 

 been suggested that these help the spider in holding 

 the cover against attack ; in Mr. Gosse's opinion they 

 serve to admit light and air to the dwelling, and are 



