Marvels of the Universe 1031 
the parlour or pantry (page 1033), where the 
victim is quickly hung up; for the Spider 
shows her wonderful forethought by running 
up to mend the hole torn in the snare. This 
she repairs in the most scientific manner, 
drawing the edges together with her broad 
spinnerets and then darning them together in 
so neat a way that it excites feelings of wonder. 
After this she runs down with light heart and 
steps to her prey, which, as soon as sucked 
dry, is once more seized between the Spider’s 
jaws, carried straight up to the top, forced 
through the tube and dropped outside. 
The male Trap-door Spider is, as might 
be supposed, more handsomely coloured— 
in deep purple—and when he arrives at 
maturity, and has cast his last suit of juvenile 
clothing, he escapes for ever from his short 
silken tube, and goes a-courting! For Spider, 
like we bipeds, has a soft heart, and is 
thereby led into trouble; for having found 
the nest of one of the “ gentle sex,” he runs 
up the outside of the aerial part and drums 
a tattoo and knocks for admittance; but 
the lady will not be disturbed, until the gay 
cavalier, wearied by his long waiting, bursts 
through all ceremony and silken nests and 
enters (page 1032), introduces himself, and 
they dwell together for three or four months, 
until the day arrives when they have had 
enough of each other, and the female, to 
put an end to all differences, kills her mate, 
eats what she can of him, finally picking up 
his remains, which are carried up to the top 
and thrown out! 
A short time after the shocking tragedy, 
the Spider climbs half-way up the nest, and 
in the upper side forms a hollow, across which 
she spins a beautiful hammock of floss silk, 
filling it with about one hundred spherical 
eggs. These hatch, and the large family of 
spiderlings remain with their mother for some 
months, until April, when a small hole is made 
in the aerial part of the nest, and the young 
are all driven up close together into this part, 
until the hole is reached—whence they escape ; 
the greater part to “ balloon away’ and start 
new colonies, while others remain near the 
maternal home. 
(Bu F. Enock. 
BRITISH TRAP-DOOR SPIDER—MALE. 
Three and a half times the natural size. 
(By PF. Enock. 
BRITISH TRAP-DOOR SPIDER—FEMALE. 
Three and a half times the natural size. 
