240 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
events, she jumped at them very snappishly when- 
ever they came near, and sometimes even with the 
load in her mouth, hut I did not see that she 
caught one. Once, too, a large Ichneumon was 
lurking about, at whom she fiercely flew, and I 
think they had a short struggle. At times she 
would linger at a little distance, after depositing 
her load, apparently hoping to catch the insidious 
housebreaker, in the manner,” as lawyers say. 
At length I broke off a large piece from the side 
and bottom of the old part, exposing the spiders 
to view ; this, however, she speedily built up as 
before, at two or three loads, adding to the standing 
part all round the hole, and not at one side only. 
After this I did not put her industry to the task 
any more, but suffered her to finish her work, which 
she did by adding another layer or two to the end. 
I, however, made a hole in the first cell, which was 
quite hard and dry, to see if she would observe it, 
which she did at once, and clapped her load of 
mortar on it. I noticed that while working, though 
the wings were closed incumbently, she kept up a 
shrill buzz, like that of a bee when held in the 
fingers ; her antennae, which were usually carried 
nearly straight, were during the plastering curled 
up, and continually vibrating, and moving on the 
surface of the work, evidently trying it by touch, 
which seemed to me adverse to the theory that 
calls the antennae ears.” In seeking her materials 
she was gone never more, often less, than a minute, 
and always brought a lump similar in appearance, 
which was invariably carried in the jaws, without 
any aid from the feet. 
July 1. — The Dauber built another cell to-day, 
on the other side of the first, which is now there- 
