The Narbonne Lycosa: The Burrow 



see my Lycosae, now this batch, now that, 

 building, at the entrance to the burrow, a con- 

 vex ceihng, which is difficult to distinguish 

 from the surrounding soil. Can it be to pro- 

 tect themselves from the too-vivid light? 

 This is doubtful; for, a few days later, 

 though the power of the sim remain the same, 

 the roof is broken open and the Spider re- 

 appears at her door, where she revels in the 

 torrid heat of the dog-daj's. 



Later, when October comes, if it be rainy 

 weather, she retires once more under a roof, 

 as though she were guarding herself against 

 the damp. Let us not be too positive of any- 

 thing, however: often, when it is raining 

 hard, the Spider bursts her ceiling and leaves 

 her house open to the skies. 



Perhaps the lid is only put on for serious 

 domestic events, notably for the laying. I 

 do, in fact, perceive young Lycosae who shut 

 themselves in before they have attained the 

 dignity of motherhood and who reappear, 

 some time later, with the bag containing the 

 eggs hung to their stem. The Inference 

 that they close the door with the object 

 of securing greater quiet while spinning the 

 maternal cocoon would not be in keeping 

 137 



