Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-18
A Spiders Appetite.

In order TO test what a spider could
do in tho way Of eating we arose
about daybreak ono morning, to sup
ply his fine web with fly. At first,
however, the spider did not come from
his retreat, SO we peepcd among the
leaves, and there discovered that an
carwig had been caught, and was now
being feasted on. The spider left the
earwig, rolled up the fly, and at once
returned to his "first course" This
was at half-past five A, M. in Septem.
ber. AT seven A. NJ. the earwig had
been demolished, and the spider, af-
ter resting littlo while, and proba.
bly, enjoying a nap,came down for the
fly, which he had finished at nine A.
Nj. A little after nine we supplied
him with daddy long.legs, which
was eaten by noon. AT one o'clock q
blow-fy was greedily seized, and with
an appetite, apparently no worse for
bis previous indulgence, he com
menced on the blow-hy. During the
day, and toward the evening, great
many small green flies, or what are
popularly termed midges, had been
caughtin the web of these we counted
ono hundred and twenty all dead and
fast prisoners In the spiders nest
Soon after dark, provided with a Ian
tern, VIC went TO examine whether tho
spider was suffering from indigestion,
or in any other way from his previous
meals; instead, however, of being
thus affected, he was employed in
rolling up together the various little
green mdges, which be then took TO
his retreat and ate. This process be
repeated, carrying up the lots in little
detachments, until the whole web was
eaten, for tho web and its contents
were bundled up together. A slight
rest of about an hour was followed
by the most Industrious web-making
process, and before daybreak, another
web was ready to be used in the same
way. Taking the relative size of tho
spider and OF the creatures it ate, and
applying this to a man, il would be
somewhat as follows; At daybreak,
q small alligator was eaten at seven
A. M, a lamb; at nino A. NJ, q young
camel-lcopard at one o'clock, sheep;
and during the night, one hundred
and twenty larks. This, wc believe,
would be very fair allowance for
one man for twenty. -four hours and
could wc find one gifted with such an
appetite and such digestion, we can
readily comprehend how be might
spin five miles Of web without killing
himself, provided he possessed the
necessary machinery -Eag. Paper.
Tue ARCHER FIsH.-This singular
fish, which we do not think has eyor
been introduced into this country, de.
rives its narno from tho manner in
which it secures its prey. Not being
possessed OF the slender form and mar
velous muscular power which enables
the trout to leap into the air, after flies,
II is obliged to resort to strategy -
When 1t observes fly lowering above
the water, II slowly approaches the
surface and so directs its course that,
when its nose rises above tho water,
II will be in n direct line with its prey,
and at this instant it discharges drop
OF water with such forcc as to bring
down the insect, even at q distance Of
three feet. That It's aim should bo 10
accurate, Notwithstanding tho rcfract-
ive power of tho water, is certainly
remarkable. This fish is found in tho
fresh water lakes Of Japan, and II is
said easily domcsticatcd, and will
practice its art in tho aquarium. IL
seldom reaches six inches In length,
and Is known TO naturalsts as Terotcs
jdculdtor. ,' wy '''i fi9ii n