1030 Marvels of the Universe 
The nest is enlarged each year, the aerial part representing the snare, and when the tube 
above ground is finished it bears a considerable resemblance to its environment. 
Supposing we dig up a mature nest and forcibly dislodge the occupant—for unless this be 
done the Spider never leaves her nest. We must be prepared to “‘stand by”’ for perhaps some 
hours before the evicted one will deign to move, for with limbs drawn close up to her body she 
“sits” sullenly peering out from the eight small eyes; then suddenly awakes and makes as 
quick a dash for some rough cavity in the sand, in which she immediately commences to work, 
using her immense jaws for excavating. Opening the jaws as wide as possible, she takes a big 
jawful of sand and drops it a short 
distance on one side; this process being 
repeated until a decided hole is made 
—when the Spider quietly climbs up, 
pushing the sand out before her. 
This task occupies some hours and 
is frequently not commenced until 
night-time. As soon as a depth of an 
inch has been sunk, the Spider lines 
the inside with silk, carrying up the 
structure an inch or two above the 
ground-line. When the ends have been 
properly fastened to the side of the 
bank or herbage the Spider descends, 
and taking a small mouthful of sand 
from the bottom, ascends, and driving 
her long fangs through the aerial part, 
she bends them down on the outside 
and then pushes the sand through the 
silk and pit-a-pats it against her jaws, 
causing it to adhere to the somewhat 
sticky silk. So she goes on until the 
whole of the aerial part is “ sanded ”’ 
outside to make it the same colour as 
the ground. Next she reverses her 
position and fastens strong silken 
threads to the inside and right up to 
the top, and quietly walks down to her 
pantry. So she goes up and down until 
NEST OF THE BRITISH TRAP-DOOR SPIDER. ; HS 
This species, though one of the Trap-door Spiders, constructs no these telephonic communications are all 
definite door, but opens one in the silk tube where required, and after properly constructed. Now she is ready 
Maras pepinent eaten stor ctReacenin: to take a rest, but first she attaches 
her spinnerets to the threads and takes hold with her claws and falls asleep, when suddenly her 
rest is broken—there is someone or something “ ringing up” above (page 1029), and as the lines 
are not engaged, she quickly, but oh! so stealthily, climbs up until she reaches the exact spot, 
where outside the fly is resting in blissful ignorance—for neither can see through the opaque tube— 
whilst the Spider quickly opens wide those terrible jaws, the fangs are raised until at right angles to 
the vertical tube, and like a hghtning-flash are driven through right into the head of the fly ! 
A few moments are spent in sampling the fly, before the Spider begins to pull it through the 
rough trap-door opened beneath. Sometimes this is a tough job, but the strength of the Spider 
overcomes ; a large rent is torn, and head first the fly is dragged down until Spider and fly reach 
[By F. Enock, 
