A CLEVER LOCKSMITH 201 
ground about twelve inches deep and an inch 
across. This shaft is very neatly and luxuriously 
lined with a fine silken lining, the product of the 
spider’s own spinnerets. Here the young hatch 
and live for a few weeks until they are old enough 
to make burrows of their own, and here the 
mother rests when she is not upon the hunt. 
“ Usually the nests of the trap-door spiders 
are found in pairs; however, there is some doubt 
as to whether these are occupied by the different 
sexes or not. But, knowing how touchy and ir¬ 
rational most spider females are, we should think 
it a very wise provision indeed for the husband to 
have a den of his own, especially one like the trap¬ 
doors fashion; for so clever is the little door with 
which they barricade their shaft, that when once 
the spider is inside on guard, holding the door 
down by means of its mandibles and feet, no 
enemy, no matter how bloodthirsty, can break 
in, unless it is strong enough to destroy the door. 
In such case, usually the would-be murderer has 
his effort for nothing; the spider is out and gone 
by means of a second trap-door, provided for just 
such an emergency. 
“ The trap-door spiders are large and hairy 
and are close kin to the tarantulas. They are 
fitted with a third claw which aids them in climb¬ 
ing the silken lining of their burrows, and they 
have, also, a special raking-tool or miner’s pick 
