A SPIDER IN A CLOSE PLACE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 358, 6 May 1911, Page 2

A SPIDER IN A CLOSE PLACE.

The den spider, who is liable to attack from her enemies, is a most curious study. To hare an idea of this creature's home you must imagine a hollow tube in the ground, divided, at some distance down, till it is like the letter Y. One top of the Y is the opening ; the other does not come to the surface, but forms a blind alley. At the opening te a lid with a silken hinge, which our friend the spider generally keeps prudently closed. Suppose that an enemy discovers this door and endeavours to open it. The spider, laying hold of the door Dn the inside with her strong claws, holds it tight. It may be that this rebuff proves sufficient, and the assailant goes somewhere else in search of a dinner. But if the spider finds herself overmatched she wisely abandons this defence, and rushes down the tube. Just nt the fork of the Y she has an inner stronghold. To this she now betakes herself, closing it, and holding the door tight as before. Again a struggle takes place, and there is a chance that the adversary may retire. But if the spider finds her foe too strong, she is still provided with a resource. She makes a strategical movement which rarely [ails to attain its purpose ; suddenly rushing into the blind alley, she draws the door over the opening, thus hiding every sign of it. There sli3 lies comfortably concealed, enjoying the confusion of her enemy. He rushes triumphantly down the stem of the Y, anticipating an easy triumph, and to his utter amazement finds it empty ! He actually knew she was there. He pushes around, searching in every corner. Slowly and sadly he comes to the conclusion that he has been made a fool of; and finally departs, dinnerless, disconsolate, and deeply disgusted. Row that clever spider must chuckle as she listens to his receding footsteps !