TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS IN CAPTIVITY. 
3 
In the direct westward course :— 
Seychelles—Remarkable sunrises and sunsets, and 
sun appeared like a full moon. 
Gold Coast—Blue sun, and sun white and pale like 
moon. 
Trinidad—Blue sun, and great sunset-glow like a fire. 
In the northward and southward dispersion :— 
Madras—Green sun at sunrise and sunset. 
Ceylon—Green sun and blue sun ; sun blue even at 
noon. 
Cape of Good Hope—Grand and unusual sunsets. 
England—Grand and unusual sunsets and sunrises. 
TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS IN CAPTIVITY. 
For some time past I have had a number of male and 
female Atypi in confinement in various flower pots, partly 
filled with sand, and with a layer of moss on the surface to 
make it more homelike. 
Not having seen anything of them for some time, I became 
anxious to ascertain whether they were living. I carefully 
lifted the moss in one pot, and found the occupant (a male) 
dead. In another pot, one almost done for, with abdomen 
shrivelled and dry, and the legs drawn up. I immediately 
damped the moss, replacing the glass cover, which was soon 
covered with moisture. In the evening, on removing the 
glass, I was surprised and delighted to find Atypus had quite 
recovered the use of his limbs and jaws, for on placing my 
finger within half an inch of him, he made an attempt to 
seize it, but I declined such close friendship, having had my 
thumb’s blood drawn pretty freely by a ferocious mate of his. 
The abdomen, too, had regained its natural form and bright 
healthy colour. 
The spider is, whilst I am writing, enjoying perfect health 
and spirits. Last week, I mentioned my observations to my 
friend—Sir Sidney S. Saunders, and he confirmed my opinion 
that moisture was of the utmost importance for the well-being 
of spiders in captivity, and informed me that some time ago 
he kept a large trap-door spider (Cteniza Iunica ) for a con¬ 
siderable time in confinement, and wishing to see if it would 
make a door at the bottom of its nest, he reversed it, a 
proceeding not appreciated by Cteniza, and which it resented 
by sulking. “ I then (said Sir Sidney) obtained the garden 
watering pot, and gave her a good shower-bath ; the next 
morning there was the perfect door, which she had made 
during the night.” F. Enoch, Woking. 
