64 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



BURROWING SPIDERS. 



rhe Scorpion and its habits — The burrow of the vScorpion — How detectca- 

 Suicide among the Scorpions — Spiders and their burrows — The Atypus — 

 The Tarantula— Its ferocity and courage— The Trap-door Spider— Its 

 tunnel and the lining thereof— Its appearance under the microscope — The 

 'Trap-door' itself, and its structure— Curious example of instinct — Activity 

 oi the Spider — Strength and obstinacy of the Trap-door Spider — An Aastra- 

 lian Trap-door Spider. 



Among the burrowers belonging to this order may be reckoned 

 the well-known Scorpion, of which there are several species, 

 resembling each other in their general appearance, their struc- 

 ture and their habits. 



Scorpions are found in all the warmer portions of the globe, 

 and under the tropics they may be said to swarm. They are, 

 as a general rule, intolerant of light, creeping by day into every 

 cranny that can shelter them from the unwelcome sunbeams, 

 and often causing very great annoyance by this custom. Old 

 travellers, who have learned by experience the habits of these 

 creatures, do not retire to rest before they have carefully exa- 

 mined the bed and surrounding furniture, especially taking up 

 the pillow, and seeing that no enemy has lodged within the 

 folds of the bedding. The left hand is generally employed in 

 lifting the clothes, while the right is armed wuth a boot-jack, or 

 stout shoe, or some other convenient weapon, with which the 

 Scorpion may be immolated to the just wrath of its discoverer 

 before it can run off and hide itself afresh. Shoes, boots, and 

 gloves are also favourite resorts of the Scorpion, which has 

 caused many an inexperienced traveller to buy future caution 

 at rather a dear rate. 



Scorpions may be found ^^verywhere, under every stone, and 



