INFANT PHENOMENA 



two lower arms of the X (in the picture you will see the end 

 of a root in the earth just where I mean), or back against 

 the opposite side of the gallery (close to that rather large 

 fragment of stone on the right), thus dividing the right 

 upper arm of the cross from the rest of the habitation. Let 

 us now suppose that while the spider is at home some 

 dangerous enemy, such as the centipede represented in the 

 picture, discovers the entrance to the nest and ventures 

 inside. What will happen ? The spider, who has probably 

 offered no resistance at the upper or wafer door, on finding 

 her home invaded, immediately retreats to the lower part of 

 the burrow and slams the swing door in the face of the 

 intruder, who, having explored the upper tube and found it 

 empty, may depart believing the nest to be tenantless. But 

 supposing the inner door should be discovered, as in the 

 case depicted, and that the spider should be beaten in the 

 pushing match which follows, she then slips into the upper 

 part of the inner gallery, the door is closed over the secret 

 passage the invader on this occasion unwittingly aiding in 

 the manoeuvre and our centipede, descending precipitately 

 to the bottom of the gallery, once more finds his victim has 

 escaped him ! There the matter probably ends ; but in the 

 unlikely event of the secret upper den being discovered and 

 the door forced once more, there is still a chance of retreat, 

 for this chamber is roofed over with a thin cover of silk and 

 earth which could easily be torn away in case of need. What 

 could be more ingenious ? 



The most wonderful fact, however, remains to be stated : 

 baby spiders, not larger than small flies, make tiny nests for 

 themselves which reproduce perfectly in miniature the upper 

 door, lower door, main tube, and branch ! The lids of some 

 of these astonishing nests are indicated in the picture ; they 

 are sometimes scarcely one-twelfth part of an inch in diameter. 



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