SPIDERS. 119 



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 beauti- 

 fully rounded, very smooth, and fitting with astonishing neatness 

 into the aperture. This curious specimen was discovered in 

 Albania, and presented by W. Wil.son 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 

 as to show the valve which closes it ; but no one who really takes 

 an interest in natural history can pass this nest without pausing 

 in admiration. The workmanship is wonderful, and the hole, 

 with its cover, looks as if it had been made in clay, by means of 

 the potter's wheel, so regular and true are its outlines. The 

 hole itself is circular, but the door is semi-circular, the hinge 

 extending across the middle of the aperture. 



Two points in this door are specially worthy of notice, the 

 one being that its edge, as well as that of the aperture, is 

 bevelled off inwards, so that the accurate closure of the entrance 

 is rendered a matter of absolute certainty. The second point is, 

 that the outer surface of the door, together with the surrounding 

 earth, is ingeniously covered with little projections, so that when 

 the door is closed, the line which, on smooth ground, would have 

 marked its presence is totally hidden. The shape of the door, 

 too, is remarkable. Towards its hinge it is comparatively thin, 

 but upon the edge it is very thick, solid, and heavy, so that its 

 own weight is sufficient to keep it firmly closed. The " hinge," 

 to which allusion has frequently been made, is not a separate 

 piece of workmanship, but is a continuation of the silken tube 

 which lines the tunnel. An exact imitation of its principle 

 may be made by taking the cover of a book, and cutting it 

 across from the inside, until all its substance except the cloth 

 or leather is severed, and then bending the two portions back. 

 The cloth or leather will then form a hinge precisely similar to 

 that of the Trap-door Spider, the pasteboard taking the place of 

 the earthen door. 



