Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-12

stuffed spiders of Southern California.
From the Santa Barbara Gal INDEPENDENT
If there is any one feature for which southern
California is especially noted it is her spiders.
When it comes to a real live energetic. ugly
vicious. poisonous spider. southern California
can enter prize animals at any fair. The most
precious trophies the tourists bear away from
this coast are. in al probability. the neat cards
decorated with these monsters of the insect
world. Every one is familiar with the trap door
and nest OF this cunning but ugly creation. and
of which STANCE little habtatiOns every adobe
ranch s full. So densely populated with
these beautifully lined tunnels are some of
the sunny. quiet valleys among the foothills
that close inspection will reveal their almost
Invisible trap doors hardly foot apart.
Yet in spite Of this. hardly living animal will
be seen. There is a legitimate demand for pre-
pared specimens. both at wholesale and retail.
When first brought in by the Quick-eyed, dex-
ferrous young Spaniards who supply most of
hem, they are deprived of what life is LETT in
heir bodies by poisonous fumes or other appli-
cation of poison. After the taydeTmist has
made sure they are quite dead a wise precau-
ton. he cuts them open on the under side and,
removing the loose matter thorcfrOm carefully
stutts them with cotton. This stutting process
Is quite y delicate operation. and requires no
little kDack to perform neatly and successfully
without iniuring the animal and bringing il
back to Is normal shape and size. A hummng
bird would seem 10 be about IS small an object
as could easily be put through this painstaking
operation. let alone an insect even of the size
OF tarantula. This having been completed
the spider is placed upon board and properly
held III position by pins, one through the body
ard one in each foot and set in the sun to drv
The sale of them in this CITY is carried on both
at Wholesale and retail. several parties here
carrying on the business. The retail price is 30
cents apiece. one merchant dispOsirg of many
dozen Il wear in that way The wholesale one
bp ma fIIral
history stores of san Francisco. which establish
ments pay B per dozen for wcll-pTepared speci-
mems. the supply seeming never TO crowd the
demand Hayward MuZZal of this city. who
have dealt heavily in this branch of industry
have sold several hundred in u year and charged
for them Il per dozen. Several men in Los
Angeles also carry on the business. and one tax
iderm!st IN particular las made very remune-
ratye occupation OF the preparation OF cases con-
tanning nests so arranged Is TO give full view of
their internal structure. and placing in natural
position tarantulaS and their young. Some OF
his work is very fine; one. indeed, was sold for
go to the proprietor OF circus and menagerie
and is doubtless now astonishing the natives in
different parts of the country. As of course is
we'll known these spiders are found within
wide radius west of the Rocky mountains but
Arizona and Southern California can claim the
most bounteous supply and perhaps the biggest,
ugllest individual specimens. In spite of their
great numbers few instances occur where people
have been bitten by them. and fatal effects have
never come to the knowledge of this writer; the
tarantulas generally being more anxious than
the other party to get out OF the way Hence it
Is that the great precautions taken by fishing
and hunting parties to secure generous supplies
of medicine against tarantula bites Is an unuec-
essary trouble.
How COuidock Endorsed Buchanan.
From the Denver Republican
few years ago there was a wel-known actor
by the name Of Mexican Buchanan, or "Old
Buck, as he was Familiarity called At a hotel
at Cairo, H., he met Charley COuldock The
night was disagreeable; the meeting was q
merry one. After partaking of a few glasses a
game of poker was proposed. Now COuldOck
liked the sport, bat was not an expert. Bu-
chanan waS-nOt that he was ever known to
CHEAT. but he always won. In q short time
CouldOck was cleaned out" and the party
went 10 bed. Next morning 'Buck" met Char
ley and said: Il am going out west for little
shooting recreation. but would like to act while
out there as we'll. Do you know the manager
at cheyenne: Il do" said the old man.
.'WclI.' said Buck" Il wish yon would Give
me line TO him" Certainly" said CouldOck
and he Immediately wrote the letter. 1t ran
thus:
CAIRO. ILL, Dec. 2. 1s57.-Mr Ruskin-My
Dear sir This will be handed you by nv friend,
Nj Mexican Buchanan an actor of much merit
He comes To your town or professional business.
lie plays CUgutsits RiChelie,t Handel Richard
III, StyEock and poker; he plans poker best
Your oDedient servant, w. c. II. COULDoCK.
The Maryland Historical society has deter
nine! that Ae@any is the correct way OF spell
ing the name of that county.