POISON-FANG AND STILETTO 161 



from view. This door is attached to one side 

 of the mouth of the burrow by a silken hinge, so 

 that it always remains in position and cannot 

 be pushed away by any clumsy creature that 

 happens to be taking a walk overhead. 



In the daytime the Spider rests within her 

 nest, but as evening approaches she ascends the 

 shaft, pushes up the trap-door, and cautiously 

 takes a look all round ; if no enemy is in sight, 

 she comes forth and prowls about in search of 

 her evening meal. Should she be alarmed, 

 Madam Trap-door beats a hasty retreat into 

 her den, and firmly holds the door against all 

 intruders by clinging to the underside, and 

 holding on with her legs to the walls of the 

 silken-lined tunnel. 



Some species of Trap-door Spiders do not 

 make a second chamber in their burrow, and 

 the doors will be found to vary so that they 

 harmonize with their surroundings ; while some 

 are composed merely of earth and silk, others 

 have pieces of leaves, twigs, or moss woven 

 into the upper surface, the better to conceal 

 them from observation. 



The " Turret Spider " of America is another 

 very interesting species of burrowing Spider. 

 Above the entrance to her nest she builds a 

 little tower of dried sticks, moss, and earth, 

 fastened together with silk. This remarkable 

 structure is pentagonal in shape, and is raised 

 about three inches above the ground. As there 

 is no door to the turret, the Spider in all pro- 

 bability erects it to prevent unwelcome visitors 

 dropping in upon her unawares. 



M 



