Weavers and Spinners. 



chief claim to our admiration rests in the wonderful 

 perfection of workmanship which the door generally 

 exhibits, and the complete concealment which it affords 

 when closed. Indeed, this type of door generally fits 

 so tightly, owing to the accurate adjustment of its sloping 

 sides to the bevelled rim of the nest, that it affords a 

 certain amount of resistance to opening from above, even 

 when the inhabitant of the nest is absent from home. 

 When within its nest, some species of Trap-door Spider 

 will endeavour to keep the door closed should any at- 

 tempt be made to open it offering the most determined 

 resistance. Of the manner in which the spider holds 

 on to her door to prevent its being opened, Mr. Mogg- 

 ridge gives the following interesting account : " No 

 sooner had I gently touched the door with the point of 

 a penknife than it was drawn slowly downwards, with 

 a movement which reminded me of the tightening of 

 a limpet on a sea-rock ; so that the crown, which at first 

 projected a little way above, finally lay a little below 

 the surface of the soil. I then contrived to raise the 

 door very gradually, despite the strenuous efforts of 

 the occupant, till at length I was just able to see into 

 the nest, and to distinguish the spider holding on to 

 the door with all her might, lying back downwards, with 

 her fangs and all her claws driven into the silk lining 

 of the under surface of the door. The body of the 

 spider was placed across, and filled up the tube, the 

 head being away from the hinge, and she obtained an 

 additional purchase in this way by blocking up the 

 entrance." The excavation of the shaft is no light 

 ^indertaking ; for the spider is not very active in her 

 movements, and the digging has to be done chiefly 



