86 HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



changing their appearance. By August they seem to 

 be nearly full grown, when their enemy the wasp makes 

 such havoc among them. 



By thus tracing the life history of this spider we 

 find it to be two years old before the first brood of 

 young is hatched ; and if no accident befalls it, it prob- 

 ably lives several years. 



These spiders make very interesting pets. I capture 

 them by cutting out the nests with a sharp trowel or 

 large knife, and have ready some glass candy-jars from 

 twelve to fourteen inches in height, in which I carefully 

 place them. I then fill in with earth all around, mak- 

 ing the jar about half full, and cover the surface with 

 moss, introducing some pretty little growing plants, 

 so that my nervous lady friends may admire the plants 

 without being shocked with the knowledge that each 

 of these jars is the home of a large spider. 



Some of these spiders take kindly to their new sur- 

 roundings, and at once begin to repair their domiciles ; 

 others utterly refuse to take advantage of my kindness, 

 and try to climb up the side of the jar — which is im- 

 possible for them to accomplish — to make their escape. 

 It is of no use to keep a discontented individual, for it 

 will not build, however tame it becomes. Such a one 

 I always let go to shift for itself, which it very soon 

 does by digging a burrow, sometimes within a few feet 

 from where I sent it adrift. 



The male tiger-spider is a handsome fellow, and fully 

 as large as the female. In color the body is a light 



