THE AUSTRALIAN TRAP-DOOR SPIDER. 



7\ 



fangs. Altogether, it has so crustacean an aspect, that, in 

 common with many other species, it is called by the French 

 the Crab-spider. The length of the specimen now before me 

 is about an inch and a quarter, exclusive of the legs. 



It is nocturnal in its habits, and during the night it leaves 

 its burrow and hunts for prey. Insects of various kinds fall 

 victims to this spider, and at the bottom of its tunnel may be 

 found the relics of its feast, often including the remains of 

 tolerably large beetles. If, when it is within its home, the lid 

 be lifted gently, the spider hastens to the entrance, hooks its 

 hind legs to the silken lining of the lid, and the fore legs to the 

 side of the tube, and resists with all its might. 



Nothing short of actual violence will induce the Trap-door 

 Spider to vacate the premises which it so courageously defends. 

 It will permit the earth to be excavated around its burrow, and 

 the whole nest to be removed, without deserting its home; and 

 in this manner specimens have been removed and placed in 

 positions where their proceedings could be watched. Some 

 few months ago, several examples of the Trap-door Spider and 

 its nest were to be seen in the reptile-room of the Zoological 

 Gardens. Boldly as the spider guards its home, and energetic 

 as it is while engaged in defence, it is no sooner removed from 

 the burrow than it loses all its activity, remains fixed to tlie 

 spot as if stupefied, or, at the best, walks languidly about 

 without appearing to have any definite object in view. 



Trap-door Spiders inhabit many parts of the woi4d. In the 

 British Museum is a curious specimen of a nest, which is 

 furnished with two doors, one at each end. The door of one 

 end is rather loosely and irregularly made, as is, indeed, the 

 whole end of the nest ; but, at the other extremity, the door is 

 beautifully rounded, very smooth, and fitting with astonishing 

 neatness into the aperture. This curious specimen was 

 discovered in Albania, and presented by W. Wilson Saunders, 

 Esq. 



The gem of the collection, however, for accuracy and finish, 

 is one that is the work of an Australian spider, and was found 

 at Adelaide. Only the upper part of the tube is preserved, so 



