THE TRAP-DOOR SPIDER. 55 



an inch. On coming back to the same spot a minute or two after- 

 wards, I found the door open to the same extent as before, and the 

 body of the spider could be seen indistinctly beneath it. I caught a 

 moth and killed it, and put it up towards the hole on the end of a 

 stick. It was instantly seized and drawn in by the spider, and the 

 door was completely closed. On raising it, the spider was seen with 

 its prey an inch or two down the hole ; but it speedily retreated still 

 further. I repeatedly made similar experiments with this spider and 

 one or two others. On one occasion I fastened the body of a 

 specimen of the same species firmly to a stick and put it up towards 

 the door of a nest. The owner of the nest came out and tugged at 

 the stick, hi a way that could be distinctly felt ; but finally getting 

 alarmed it retreated. 



I watched several spiders until the middle of June, when change 

 of residence put an end to my opportunities. They could always be 

 seen peering out from beneath their doors after dark; and apparently 

 were not at all alarmed by the light, nor at my presence, for they 

 have frequently come out of their nests to seize an offered fly, and 

 have remained out for several minutes. Apparently it is their habit 

 to watch for insects from the inside of their doors, and dart out and 

 seize them as they approach. They do not appear to come outside, 

 except to seize their prey. 



In addition to Nemesia, Migas distinctus and a probably un- 

 described species of Ariadne, both ground spiders, are to be found on 

 the Lyttelton hills. The latter occurs at an altitude of 1,000 feet, in 

 holes of an inch or two in length, one-quarter of an inch in diameter, 

 without lids, and lined with a dense layer of white web. This spider 

 takes advantage of cracks in the face of a bank for the commencement 

 of its nest, enlarges them a little, and weaves a cylindrical web 

 inside. They do not appear to be very common. 



There are many problems of interest awaiting solution with 

 regard to the distribution and habits of these spiders ; and any one 

 who lives in a neighbourhood where they occur will find in them a 

 very interesting study. 



AN EDIBLE FTJNGUS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



(Hirneola ijolytricha, Montagne).* 



For some years an edible fungus, a product of the New Zealand 

 forests, has become an important article of commerce between that 

 colony and China. The fungus belongs to the same genus as the 

 European Jews'-Ear (Hirneola Auricula-judce), a tough but gelatinous 

 fungus formerly in reputation as an ingredient of gargles. The 

 New Zealand fungus now under notice (Hirneola polytricha), is well 

 described by W. Colenso., F.R.S., in the "Transactions of the 

 Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 1884-85 " : — 



* "Kew Bulletin,' October, 1890. 



