The Labyrinth Spider 315 



certificate of its origin, for the mother invariably 

 occupies it. 



By this method of investigation, far from the 

 lab3n:inth-trap, I become the owner of as many 

 nests as are needed to satisfy my curiosity. 

 They do not by a long way come up to my 

 idea of the maternal talent. They are clumsy 

 bundles of dead leaves, roughly drawn together 

 with silk threads. Under this rude covering 

 is a pouch of fine texture containing the egg- 

 casket, all in very bad condition, because of 

 the inevitable tears incurred in its extrication 

 from the brushwood. No, I shall not be able 

 to judge of the artist's capacity by these rags 

 and tatters. 



The insect, in its buildings, has its own 

 architectural rules, rules as unchangeable as 

 anatomical peculiarities. Each group builds 

 according to the same set of principles, conform- 

 ing to the laws of a very elementary system of 

 aesthetics ; but often circumstances beyond the 

 architect's control — the space at her disposal, 

 the unevenness of the site, the nature of the 

 material and other accidental causes — inter- 

 fere with the worker's plans and disturb the 



