304 The Life of the Spider 



comes home, the Hd drops into the groove and 

 fits so exactly that there is no possibihty of 

 distinguishing the join. If the aggressor persist 

 and seek to raise the trap-door, the recluse 

 pushes the bolt, that is to say, plants her claws 

 into certain holes on the opposite side to the 

 hinge, props herself against the wall and holds 

 the door firmly. 



Another, the Argyroneta, or Water Spider, 

 builds herself an elegant silken diving-bell, in 

 which she stores air. Thus supplied with the 

 wherewithal to breathe, she awaits the coming 

 of the game and keeps herself cool meanwhile. 

 At times of scorching heat, hers must be a regu- 

 lar sybaritic abode, such as eccentric man has 

 sometimes ventured to build under water, with 

 mighty blocks of stone and marble. The sub- 

 marine palaces of Tiberius are no more than an 

 odious memory ; the Water Spider's dainty 

 cupola still flourishes. 



If I possessed documents derived from per- 

 sonal observation, I should like to speak of 

 these ingenious workers ; I would gladly add 

 a few unpublished facts to their life-history. 

 But I must abandon the idea. The Water 



