Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-11-25

ably the snake was as harmless as it was beau
tiful. Spring as high, be as utterly frightened
as possible, when you just avoid stepping up
on tarantula, however. Filthy, loathsome
abominable and poisonous it to atoms
before you leave it! If you have never seen
r-know henceforth that it is an enormous spi-
der concentrating in itself all the venom and
spite of all other spiders living. Its body is
some two inches long, black and bloated 1t
enjoys the possession of eight long, strong
legs, red mouth, and an abundance of stiff
brown hair all over itself. When standing, it
covers an area of saucer. Attack it with
stick, and it rears on its hind legs, gnashes at
the stick, and fights like fend 1t even Jumps
forward foot or two in its rage, and if it bite
into vein, the bite is death | have been
told of the battle fought by one on board
steamboat. Discovered at the lower end of
the saloon, 1t came hopping up the saloon,
driving the whole body of passengers before
ii, and almost drove the whole company, crew
and all, overheard
The first saw was at the house of friend
l spied it crawling slowly over the WALL medi-
tatlng murder upon the children playing in
the loom Excessively prudent in Agard to
my fingers, | at last, however, had it safely
Imprisoned in glass jar, unhurt. There was
flaw in the glass as well as hole through
the cork by which it couid breathe. but in ten
minutes it was dead from rage! Soon after,
| killed three upon my place, crawling about
ground trodden every day by the bare feet of
my little boy. A month after, killed whole
nest of them. They had formed their family
circle under doorstep, upon which the afore-
said little fellow played daily. Had he seen
one of them, he would, of course, have picked
1t up as remarkably promising toy; and
would have been childIess.
was sitting one day upon log in the
woods, when saw one slowly crawl out TO
enjoy the evening air and the sunset scenery
He was the largest, most bloated one ever
saw. AS was about 10 kill him, was struck
with the conduct of chauce wasp. 1t too,
had seen the tarantula, and was flying slowly
around it. The tarantula recognized it as
foe; and throwing itself upon its hind legs,
breathed defiance. For some time tho wasp
flew around it, and then, like flash flew right
against it, and stung it under its bloated belly.
The tarantula gnashed its red and venomed
jaws, and threw its long hairy legs about in
impotent rage, while the wasp flew round and
round it, watching for another opportunity
Again and again did it dash its sting into the
reptile, and escape. After the sixth stab. the
tarantula actually fell over on its back. dead ::
ard the wasp, after making itself sure of this.
and infliciing last sting TO make matters sure.
flew off, happy in having done duty assigned
it in creation. In an hour more, COLONY Of
ants had carried it down piecemeal, and depos-
tied it in their catacombs.
| But deadliest and most abhorrent of all our
reptiles in Texas, is the centipede. This is a
kind of worm, from three to six inches long.
exactly like an enormous caterpillar. II is
green, or brown, or yellowstone being found
of each of these colors. As its name denotes.
it has along each side, a row of feet, horny
claws rather. Imagine that you walk some
night across your chamber floor with naked
feet you put your foot down upon soft some
thing, and Instantly it coils around your foot