THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



201 



tempt is being made to violate the sanctity of its dwelling, 

 its vigilance is awakened in an instant. With one bound 



120. The Mason Sxiider — Mfif/ale ccementaria (Latreille), and Interior of its DweUing. 



it darts to the gate, to which it hooks itself by one half of 

 its claws, Avhile with the other it clings to the tapestry of 

 its hole. If we now, for curiosity's sake, gently raise the 

 door, a slight resistance is felt, and Avhen it is half open 

 we see the last struggles of the Arachnis and its threaten- 

 ing head; it defends its hearth to the last extremity.^ 



^ Several species of mason-spiders form nests of tliis kind. Among these are 

 the Mygale nidulans of Walckenaer, and the Mijgalc cratiens, or clay-kneader, of 

 Latreille. A nest supposed to belong to this insect was oi^ened and shut several 

 hundreds of times in presence of different persons without in the least destroying 



S6 



