MATERNAL INSTINCTS OP SPIDERS 295 



wall, which is of a coarser tissue, being covered with a pure 

 white silken substance like paper. 



" In the forests of Brazil," says Mr. Swainson, " we once met 

 with a most interesting little spider, which sheltered itself in the 

 same manner. Its case was suspended in the middle of its web. 

 Upon being disturbed, the little creature ran to it with swiftness. 

 No sooner had it gained its retreat than the door closed as if by 

 a spring, and left us in silent admiration — too great to lead us 

 to capture the ingenious little creature for our collection." 



At Caldera, Mr. Adams observed a dingy little species of 



! spider of the genus Clubiona, concealing itself in very snug 



retreats formed out of a dead leaf, rolled round in the shape of a 



, cylinder, lined with a soft silken tissue, and closed at one end by 



i means of a strong woven bolt-door. When hunted, it was 



amusing to see the frightened little creatures run for protection 



into their tiny castles, where they would doubtless be safe from 



\ the attacks of birds, owing to the leaves not being distinguishable 



from others that strew the ground. 



All species of spiders are gifted with the same maternal 

 i instinct, and resort to various methods for the purpose of secur- 

 , ing their cocoons. The Theridion, when a seizure of the precious 

 J burden is threatened, tumbles together with it to the ground, 

 I and remains motionless, while the Thorinsa covers it with its 

 t body, and when robbed of it, wanders about disconsolate. In a 

 I forest of the Sooloo Islands, Mr. Adams found the ground lite- 

 rally overrun with a small black agile species of Lycosa, many 

 of which had a white flattened globose cocoon affixed to the ends 

 of their abdomen. It was most amusing to watch the care 

 with which these jealous mothers protected the cradles of their 

 little ones, allowing themselves to fall in to the hands of the enemy 

 rather than be robbed of the silken nests that contained them. 

 If the spiders are at war with all other insects, and con- 

 I tribute to keep them within bounds by the destruction they 

 ' cause among their ranks, they in their turn have to suffer from 

 the attacks of many enemies. Several species of monkeys, 

 squirrels, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and toads catch and devour 

 them wherever they can. In Java and Sumatra, we even 

 I find several birds belonging to the order of sparrows that 

 have been named Arachnotherse, from their living almost exclu- 

 sively on spiders. Armed with a prodigiously long recurved 



