A CLEVER LOCKSMITH 205 
owing, it was plain, to the diminished state of the 
spider’s silk. Finally, the fifth door was built al¬ 
most entirely of mud, with scarce enough silk to 
hinge it properly, and the ill-used spiders were 
then left in peace. But yet man’s ‘ ingenuity ’ 
suggested another test for the skill of the little 
trap-door householders. Going on to a new lo¬ 
cality, the trap-doors were securely fastened 
down. Were the little locksmiths imprisoned in 
their homes? Not at all. Each and every one 
built a branch tunnel, and opened a door from it. 
“ The eggs of the trap-door spiders are placed 
in a little silken wall-pocket inside the burrow. 
The food of these spiders consists largely of ants 
and other small wingless creatures, though they 
do not despise a good juicy earthworm, or a fat 
caterpillar.” 
