S6 ARACHNOIDEA. 



Part of the tube hangs at the outside c 

 the entrance, as shown m the wood-cut. 



CASE Part of the tube hangs at the outside of the aperture to protect 



TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. 



Some of the spiders belonging to the family Mygalid^, form 

 subterranean burrows like the last species, which they line with a 

 thick silken web, and, in addition, provide them with a door which 

 opens on a hinge and fits closely. These trap-door burrows were 

 first described as observed in Jamaica by Mr. Patrick Brown in 

 1756, and afterwards in the south of Europe by the Abbe Sauvages 

 in 1763, and an account of them with figures was given by Mr. 

 Saunders in " The Transactions of the Entomological Society of 

 London," vol. 3, 1839. 



There is a difference in the character of the door of these 

 spiders ; some have it falling loosely like a flap, others fitting into 

 the tube like a cork or stopper. 



Nos. Cteniza ionica {,Sannders).—\h. Nest of do., fi-om South Europe; 16. Sketch 



^5. 16. 



of spider of natural size. 



Trap-door of Cteniza ionica, 



This belongs to the section with cork-fitting trap-door, and was 

 given to us as coming from the Ionian Islands. 



Nos. AcTiNOPUS NIDULANS {Browu). — 17. Nest of ditto, with specimens in the 

 ^7' ^2, ^gg^ , jg^ Sketch of insect enlarged ; 19. Specimens of ditto, male and 



female. 



The door of the nest of this species is an example of the kind 



