SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SPIDERS. 421 
were still one or two Spiders on the outside of it. Within a foot 
of the nest was an open bird’s nest, apparently that of a finch, 
containing two eggs, with which, however, I was unacquainted, 
they being very similar in appearance to those of the European 
Bullfinch. It seemed hardly probable that this could be the 
cause of the commotion, and so it proved, for the eggs were 
clearly deserted, being quite cold and hard set. I then examined 
the Spiders’ nest, and was surprised to hear sundry squeaks 
inside, so, placing my butterfly-net beneath it, I tore the nest 
open, and out dropped four little Dormice (Myoxus nanus, De 
Wint.). Here, then, was the cause of this twofold domestic 
tragedy! Here, too, was the explanation of the facts I had 
observed on the Umfali, for in the centre of the nest was a 
chamber lined with soft grassheads, feathery flower-seeds, and 
one or two feathers. Subsequent observation has convinced me 
that this is a normal habit on the part of the Mashona Dormouse, 
for I have since found two full-grown specimens in similar posi- 
tions, and, besides, a large proportion of disused nests show clear 
signs of having been thus occupied. I expect the primary 
attraction will be found to be the Beetles caught in the Spiders’ 
web, the Dormice having gradually learnt to utilise these snares 
for their own purposes, and finally evicting the inhabitants. 
Whether they usually occupy deserted nests, or themselves oust 
the lawful proprietors, cannot yet be decided for certain; but the 
above instance clearly demonstrates that the latter method is 
sometimes employed, and from the evidence before me I am 
inclined to believe that this is the usual course. It is pretty 
clear that in this case the mother Dormouse must have brought 
her young to the nest, for they were fully a week old, and perhaps 
more, and the condition of the nest showed that it had been 
occupied only for a short time. Likewise it seems probable that 
the Spiders resisted the invasion for some time, as it was evident 
that they could only have evacuated a few hours before, whereas 
it must have taken the Dormouse some little time to construct 
her nest and bring her young there. 
To return to the victims—they were busying themselves all 
this while in setting their house in order, though a large propor- 
tion were apparently of opinion that it was desirable to put a 
still greater distance between them and their persecutors; for 
