The Burrow 97 



omit to add that each pan must receive not 

 more than one inhabitant. The Lycosa is very 

 intolerant. To her, a neighbour is fair game, 

 to be eaten without scruple when one has might 

 on one's side. Time was when, unaware of this 

 fierce intolerance, which is more savage still 

 at breeding-time, I saw hideous orgies per- 

 petrated in my overstocked cages. I shall have 

 occasion to describe those tragedies later. 



Let us meanwhile consider the isolated 

 Lycosae. They do not touch up the dwelling 

 which I have moulded for them with a bit of 

 reed ; at most, now and again, perhaps with the 

 object of forming a lounge or bedroom at the 

 bottom, they fling out a few loads of rubbish. 

 But all, Httle by little, build the kerb that is 

 to edge the mouth. 



I have given them plenty of first-rate 

 materials, far superior to those which they use 

 when left to their own resources. These consist, 

 first, for the foundations, of little smooth stones, 

 some of which are as large as an almond. With 

 this road-metal are mingled short strips of 

 raphia, or palm-fibre, flexible ribbons, easily 

 bent. These stand for the Spider's usual 



G 



