The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-27

INSECT ARcHIrEcrs.-The ground-spi-
ders may we'll be RANKED among the won
derful native architects Of Australia; they
are OF various sizes, and differ in their color,
form, and markings. They hollow a cir
cular hole in the earth, adapted to the SIZE
of their body, and more beautifully formed
and perfectly round than any engineer with
all his scientific instruments could have
made it. Within, it is nicely tsPestried
with the finest web, woven closely over the
wall Of this subtenanean Withdrawing room,
the depth of which | never accurately as
certained, as at certain distance they seem
to curve, or perhaps lead into side-cell,
where the leelers Of fine grass ! have intro
duced could not penetrate. Some OF these
tunnels terminate at the surface with merely
slight web spun over the grains Of soil
close to the aperture, as if 10 prevent their
rolling into it; the holes being from one
sixth Of an inch to an inch in diameter.
Some Of them boast the extraordinary luxu-
ry of front door; these / imagine to be
rather first rate kind Of spiders, and their
doors are as beautiful instances Of insect
skill and artifce as any that our wonder-t
teeming world displays to US. When shut
down over the hole, nothing but the most
accurate previous knowledge could induce
any person to fancy they could perceive
any difference in the surface Of the soil; but,
perhaps, if you remain very still for some
minutes, the clever inhabitant will come
forth, when you first perceive a circle OF
earth, perhaps the size Of wedding ring or
larger, lifted up from beneath, like a
trap-door; it falls back gently on its
hinge side, and a fine, hairy, beauti-
fully pencilled brown or grey spider pops
out, and most probably pops in again, to
sit Just beneath the opening, and wait for
his dinner Of flies or other eatable intruders.
Then we see that the under side and the
rim of his earthen door are thickly and neat
ly webbed over, 50 that not grain Of soil
can fall away from its thickness, which is
usually about the eighth or tenth Of an inch,
and although so skilfully webbed below, the
upper surface preserves exactly the same
appearance as the surrounding soil. The
hinge consists also Of web, neatly attached
to that of the lid and the box. | have the
greatest respect and admiration for these
clever mechanics, and though very often,
with bent Of grass or soft green twig,
try to persuade one to come up and be
looked at (Which they generally do, nip
ping fast hold of the intrusive probe,) /
never was guilty OF hurting one. l have
picked very large ones of the ground that
the plough had Just turned over, and have
carried them to places unlikely to be dis
turbed and | generally have two or three
particular friends among them, whom | fire.
quently take peep at. They often travel
some distance from home, probably in search
Of food, as | have overtsken and watched
them returning, when they seldom turn aside
from hand or foot placed in their way, but
go steadily on at good swift pace. and,
after dropping into their hole, put forth a
claw, and hook the door too after them,
Just as man would close trap-door above
him when descending a ladder.-Mrs.
NeTedith's Nelc South Wales.