Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-07-27
RATTLESNAKES AND TARANTU-
LAS IN COLORADO.


chanIc, published at Denver, under the
head of "Cyclopedia Colorado" devotes
column or two to describing some of
the natural products of that wonderful
region. In the last number the editor
speaks of rattlesnakes as venomous SER
pents, to be found in all parts of Color
ado. He says:
at is popularity supposed that the age
of the snake can be estimated by the
number of rattles but this is mi stake,
for though these may increase with age,
their fragility is such that many may be
lost by accident; and, moreover, more
than one may be added annually, owing
to the vigor, food, state of captivity. etc.,
of the reptile-twenty are not unfre-
quently seen in large specimens, but it
would be incorrect to conclude from these
that the snake was neither more nor less
than twenty years old. AS the bite of
these reptiles is speedily fatal to small
animals, it has been generally believed
that the use of the rattles is to warn an
imals and man of its vicinity; but it is
more likely that its use is to startle the
creatures upon which it preys, from their
retreat, and bring them within the reach
of its spring, or some other purpose for
its own welfare rather than the safety
of man. Dangerous as they are, they
rarely attack man unless provoked, and
are fortunately sluggish in their move
ments, unable to spring except from a
coil, and are disabled by slight blows.
They are viviparous, the eggs being re-
tanned until Matched, and the young ex-
pelled alive. In winter they retire to
holes in the ground, and there remain
torpid, several interlared with each 9TH
er. They are unable to climb trees in
pursuit of their prey, and do not follow
retreating animal that has escaped
their spring. The most common of the
rattlesnake tribe found in COLORADO, the
prairie rattlesnake, is little over two
feet long it is cinereous above, with a
triple series of dark brown spots, and a
double series of dusky spots below; it is
fond of hiding in the holes of the prai-
RE dog
From the same source and under the
same heading we learn something of the
tarantula, or tarentula, (which" the
writer says, sis a terrestrial hunting or
wolf spider, belonging to the genus ly-
cosa. 1t is the largest of spiders, meas
uring one and half to two inches in
the length Of the body; the color is ashy
brown above, marked with gray on the
thorax, and with triangular spots and
curved streaks of black bordered with
white on the abdomen /; below saffron
colored, with a transverse black band.
1
1t received its popular name from being
common in the vicinity of Tarrants, in
South Italy. It makes no web, wander
ing for prey, which it runs down with
great swiftness, and hiding in holes in
the ground and crevices lined with its
silk; there is one spiracle on each side,
one pulmonary sac, and eight eyes it is
very active and fierce, and the females
defend their young and eggs with self
sacrificing bravery It's bite is supposed
to be highly poisonous. The l. Carolin-
ensis (Bosc.) is called tarantula in the
Southern States it attains length of
two inches, with an extent of legs of
four; it is mouse-colored above, with
white sides and whitish dots and lines
on the abdomen below. blackish legs
whitish tipped with black. 1t makes
deep excavations In the ground, which
it lines with silk; the females carry
their young on the back. giving them a
hideous appearance, as if covered with
warts; the young run off in all direc-
tions if the mother be disturbed. Its
poison is active. Both kinds are found
In Colorado, but the latter are the most
numerous. A favorite haunt is the hole
of the prairie dog, where the rattlesnake,
the tarantula, and the dog may general
ly be found sociably living together.
/ DREAMs.-Some philosopher, who ev-
identity knows how it is himself, inter.
prets dreams as follows:
/ If man dreams the devil is after
him II is n sion he had better settle his