GROUND SPIDERS. 109 



inch high. The tower is made wholly of earth and 

 web. This diminutive architect brings the little pellets 

 in its mandibles, and those it does not wish to use in 

 the tower it lets fall down by the side. Unlike its 

 mother and other elderly relatives, it does not shoot 

 the earth to a distance, but stands on the top of its 

 tower, and opening its mandibles lets it drop ; at the 

 same time it throws apart its legs or arms, as if that 

 would help it to dispose of the earth. This movement 

 is very baby - like ; but with age will come the wily 

 .movements of the mother — shooting the earth away, 

 and using moss and sticks for the better concealment 

 of the home. 



Yet this small house-keeper has rights, and means to 

 maintain them. Her actions say most emphatically that 

 she has shut herself apart from the rest of the family, 

 and will not be annoyed by them. Frequently one of 

 her brothers or sisters, meandering about, comes to this 

 little tower, and not often will one pass by without go- 

 ing up and looking in. This always seems to exasper- 

 ate the small madam. She drops her work, and springs 

 from the top of her tower, sometimes chasing the run- 

 ning brother half way across the jar; she then turns 

 and goes back to work. This is the more remarkable 

 as no such disposition is ever manifested so long as 

 they remain with the mother. While with her they 

 crowd together, walk over one another, and never have 

 any quarrels. 



At the end of the sixth week most of the remaining 



