216 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



a silken cell, about half the size of a pigeon's 

 egg, the lower end being open. This it attaches 

 with its web ropes to the surrounding plants, 

 and hangs in it ready to dart upon its prey. 



Another floats out, like a little sailor, upon a 

 ball of weeds, and when it succeeds in catching 

 an insect, it lifts it up upon its raft and devours 

 it as it floats along. 



There is a curious spider found in the south 

 of France, and some other places, which is some- 

 times called the trap-door spider. It hollows out 

 a den in the earth, generally about an inch in 

 width, and from one to two feet in depth. The 

 inside of this it first covers with a kind of mor- 

 tar, and then, as if it meant to paper its walls, 

 hangs all over them a beautiful silken web, 

 which is said to be smooth as satin, and of 

 dazzling whiteness. But the most curious part 

 of it is a trap door over the entrance, which it 

 perfectly covers. This door is made of different 

 layers of web and earth, and covered with dried 

 leaves closely matted together, and is so hung 

 at the upper part as to admit of being raised 

 when the animal passes in or out, after which it 

 immediately falls into its place. The edges are 



