58 CURIOUS nOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



earth, wliicli slie put on top of one of tlie sticks, and 

 went on doing this until there was a complete circle 

 of these pellets arranged on the inside of her five 

 walls. 



The soft earth was flattened and molded into 

 shape by the pressure of her body, so that the inside 

 of the turret presented a perfectly round, smooth sur- 

 face, which was at once lined with silk. More sticks 

 were now required and furnished, another course laid 

 and finished, and still another, until the little log cabin 

 was two inches and a half high over her burrow. 

 Mrs. Treat presented the little architect with strips of 

 green moss one or two inches in length, which she- 

 secured to the outside of her turret with cobweb. 

 This gives her tower a very dainty and picturesque 

 appearance. 



Mrs. Treat says that Madame Spider is a very neat 

 housekeeper, and never, as some other spiders do, 

 leaves the unpleasant remains of her dinner in sight, 

 but goes on top of her hotise and throws it as far away 

 as she can — a foot or two from her burrow. 



About the end of July Madame Spider appeared 

 with a cocoon of eggs, like a light-colored globe fast- 

 ened to her s]iinneret, to which she gave constant care 

 and attention. 



If the weather was cold or damp, she retired to 

 her tunnel ; but if the jar in which she lived was set 

 where the sun could shine upon it, she soon reap- 

 peared and allowed the cocoon to bask in the sunlight. 

 If the jar was placed near a stove that had a fire in it, 

 the cocoon was put on the side next the source of 



