THE AUSTRALIAN TRAP-DOOR SPIDER. 
7 1 
fangs. Altogether, it has so crustacean an aspect, that, in 
common with many other species, it is called by the French 
the Crab-spider. The length of the specimen now before me 
is about an inch and a quarter, exclusive of the legs. 
It is nocturnal in its habits, and during the night it leaves 
its burrow and hunts for prey. Insects of various kinds fall 
victims to this spider, and at the bottom of its tunnel may be 
found the relics of its feast, often including the remains of 
tolerably large beetles. If, when it is within its home, the lid 
be lifted gently, the spider hastens to the entrance, hooks its 
hind legs to the silken lining of the lid, and the fore legs to the 
side of the tube, and resists with all its might. 
Nothing short of actual violence will induce the Trap-door 
Spider to vacate the premises which it so courageously defends. 
It will permit the earth to be excavated around its burrow, and 
the whole nest to be removed, without deserting its home ; and 
in this manner specimens have been removed and placed in 
positions where their proceedings could be watched. Some 
few months ago, several examples of the Trap-door Spider and 
its nest were to be seen in the reptile-room of the Zoological 
Gardens. Boldly as the spider guards its home, and energetic 
as it is while engaged in defence, it is no sooner removed from 
the burrow than it loses all its activity, remains fixed to the 
spot as if stupefied, or, at the best, walks languidly about 
without appearing to have any definite object in view. 
Trap-door Spiders inhabit many parts of the world. In the 
British Museum is a curious specimen of a nest, which is 
furnished with two doors, one at each end. The door of one 
end is rather loosely and irregularly made, as is, indeed, the 
whole end of the nest ; but, at the other extremity, the door is 
beautifully rounded, very smooth, and fitting with astonishing 
neatness into the aperture. This curious specimen was 
discovered in Albania, and presented by W. Wilson Saunders, 
Esq. 
The gem of the collection, however, for accuracy and finish, 
is one that is the work of an Australian spider, and was found 
■at Adelaide. Only the upper part of the tube is preserved, so 
