FIELD AND FOREST. 75 



commenced working and twisting, till, finally perfectly free, and the 

 now useless envelope or membrane brushed carelessly away, our little 

 hero stands erect, with head cocked to one side, as saucy and defiant 

 as only a mantis can look. Their color, when first hatched, is honey- 

 yellow, but in a few days they become quite dark, and as active and 

 quick in their motions, as their full grown ancestors, although lacking 

 the wings. 



The Trap Door Spider. — A fine specimen of this wonderful spider 

 was received during the summer of 1873, from Mr. M. B. Wever, of 

 Edgefield County, S. C, and proved of such scientific interest that 

 after examination it was handed over to the United States Department 

 of Agriculture to be placed in its museum. The nest was about four 

 or five inches deep, was silk-like in texture, and was so closely united 

 to the soil that it seemed a part of it. The most singular feature of the 

 nest, which measured about an inch in diameter, was a tight fitting lid 

 or trap-door, composed of the same material as the walls of the nest, 

 but, very much thicker and parchmentl-ike, and united for a space of 

 three-quarters of an inch on one side, in a straight line, forming a 

 perfect working hinge. The mouth was turned outward to receive 

 the lid, so that when the nest was closed not the slightest appearance 

 of an opening could be detected. 



For a number of days the specimen remained on our table in a glass 

 globe, such as is used for goldfish, the top being covered with gauze ; 

 and during all that time, though closely watched, the spider made no 

 attempt to raise the lid or trapdoor. That such was not the case 

 during the night we easily demonstrated by placing a number of large 

 flies in the globe every evening. In the morning the flies were always 

 found to have disappeared, which would indicate that the animal is 

 night-feeding in habits. On one occasion a cicada, or harvest-fly, and 

 a grasshopper were placed in the globe, but neither were touched, so, 

 doubtless, the spider confines his diet to "small game." 



Desiring to make the acquaintance of our prisoner, on several occa- 

 sions we attempted to open the door, or lid, but this was held down 

 so tightly by the spider, by means of its strong claws, that we had to 

 give it up. Finally, however, a pair of strong forceps were carefully 

 inserted under the lid, which was then easily pryed open, the spider 

 meanwhile retreating in haste to the bottom of the burrow, from which 

 place it could only be coaxed by again closing the nest. Once, and 



