The Burrow 103 



Spider bursts her ceiling and leaves her house 

 open to the skies. 



Perhaps the lid is only put on for serious 

 domestic events, notably for the laying. I do, 

 in fact, perceive young Lycosae who shut them- 

 selves in before they have attained the dignity 

 of motherhood and who reappear, some time 

 later, with the bag containing the eggs hung to 

 their stern. The inference that they close the 

 door with the object of securing greater quiet 

 while spinning the maternal cocoon would not 

 be in keeping with the unconcern displayed by 

 the majority. I find some who lay their eggs 

 in an open burrow ; I come upon some who 

 weave their cocoon and cram it with eggs in 

 the open air, before they even own a residence. 

 In short, I do not succeed in fathoming the 

 reasons that cause the burrow to be closed, no 

 matter what the weather, hot or cold, wet or 

 dry. 



The fact remains that the lid is broken and 

 repaired repeatedly, sometimes on the same 

 day. In spite of the earthy casing, the silk 

 woof gives it the requisite pliancy to cleave 

 when pushed by the anchorite and to rip open 



