THE SPIDERS. 325 



fodiens are armed with a kind of sharp rake, while its feet 

 carry teeth like a comb. With the help of these instruments 

 the animal digs out subterranean tunnels or passages, in 

 which it can retire or hide as it pleases. The interior of 

 this dwelling is lined in carefullest fashion with a fine 

 silken web. At the entrance a door is made which, to fitly 

 describe, as Blanchard said, all expressions of wonder would 

 be insufficient. It has the shape of a lid, and consists of 

 pieces of earth bound together with silken material. It is 

 very thick, and is broader above than below, so as to close 

 the hole as completely as possible. Its outer surface has 

 exactly the appearance and condition of the surrounding 

 ground, so that nothing betrays its presence, while the inner 

 surface, like the rest of the dwelling, is lined with silken 

 web. But this is not enough; the door, like all proper 

 doors, has lock and hinge. The hinge 'is made of a very 

 thick and strong silk ; the lock consists of a row of small 

 holes, into which the spider dwelling within inserts its 

 claws, in order to hold the door fast from inside in case of 

 approaching danger. When it goes out to hunt at night 

 it lifts up the door and lets it fall behind it, just as do 

 dwellers in human holes or cellar-dwellings. On its return 

 it pulls the door up with its feet, and so glides into its 

 subterranean abode. 



The habits of this remarkable creature have been most 

 exactly studied and described by J. T. Moggridge who 

 also so admirably observed the harvesting ants in his 

 already often-named book, "Harvesting Ants and Trap- 

 door Spiders." According to him, the animal first became 

 known in the second half of the last century by thorough 

 observers like P. Browne, Sauvages and Rossi, and is 

 therefore, with regard to antiquity and fame hallowed by 

 ages, far behind ants and bees. 



Without doubt, says Moggridge, 'are the webs and cylinders 

 of common spiders very wonderful pieces of art, but in com- 

 parison with the works of the trap-door spiders they are 

 no more than is a common tunnel, for instance, as compared 

 with the tunnel of Mont Cenis. It is enchanting to see 

 with what patience and skill the little creature, which must 

 be reckoned one of the best natural artificers and discoverers, 

 overcomes all diiliculties and dangers. 



I'ntil Moggridge who was inspired and led to his studies 



