The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-21
Sins OF the Spider.

In Snlelulng Unc UIult CIedtIOu llOlh
man the disciples of Henry Bergh,
notably the Woman's Branch of the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals of this city, have done good
work, but the impression is fast gaining
ground that there is great field yet
open for these philanthropists, namely,
the protection of animals from animals.
Chief among these brute sinners against
their kind are the insects of the family
Araneides and class Arachnida, vul-
carly known as spiders. Through all
time the name has been a synonym for
the possessor of avarice, cruelty and
craft. A story of such unparalleled
atrocity and ingratitude on the part of
one spider toward another came to this
city yesterday from New York that
Times reporter was sent to the residence
of Rev. DIR. Henry c. McCook, the
celebrated authority on spiders, to in
quire into its probability. The nara
tive declared that large Fordham
spider had entangled an unsuspecting
beetle in his net, and, finding that the
prowess of that worthy burgess far
overmatched his strength, was obliged
to seek help from spider-thug who
resided in neighboring web. The
diabolical purpose of the pair pitilessly
accomplished and the unfortunate
beetle-victim dead, the first assailant
Carger than his partner in villainy)
turned upon the latter and hurled him
from the web to the ground, violating
the holy sentiment of gratitude, the
sacred duty of hospitality, and even the
proverbial honor among cut-throats and
thieves.
DR.. McCook's high character and his
familiarity with this family of savage
insects sufficiently guarantees entire inn
Partially on his part in discussing their
characteristics. The reporter told him
the story and awaited his decision upon
its internal evidences of truth.
'The kind of spider that would assail
as large an insect as a BEETLE" said the
naturalist, sis probably the tube-weav-
ing, medicinal spider, preparation of
whose web is used in the cure of inter-
mittent fevers. Probably, however, in
this case the smaller spider, instead of
having been brought by his fellow to
assist in the murder, was attracted by
CIlC COllllllOulOll III llC ilDOllIS NCO,
and when its owner retired undertook
to finish the enterprise himself. say
this because of the solitary habits CT the
spider, which would never lead him to
seek assistance. They dwell so much
alone that not even man and wife live
together. What is most remarkable to
me in the story is the fact that the larger
spider did not kill and eat the smaller
one, as they frequently prey upon one
another. He was lucky to escape with
fall"
Here the naturalist told story of
such depraved cruelty on the part OF
spiders, and particularly the gentler
sex of spiders, that its repetition must
clearly show the necessity of some
measures of protection for the worse
than hen-pecked mates of these insects.
Owing to the above mentioned soil
tary and recluse habits of these morose
and unsocial creatures, the husband
and wife dwell in separate webs, and
the former, when he wishes to behold
the faces of his offspring or to consult
about summer clothes, new roof on
the kitchen, extension or defect in the
bathroom plumbing, is compelled to
visit the private mansion Of his wife,
who is in every case from twice to ten
times as big as himself. At such times
he will do well to keep watchful eye
on the District Telegraph police call,
for history abounds in well-authenti-
Gated cases in which an Inflated spider
has been killed and eaten by his vicious
and gigantic spouse, to whom he was
''help-meat" indeed. SO wretched is
the condition of these pitiable heads of
families that their subsistence is almost
entirely derived from the crumbs and
refuse the portions off ef1ete cock
reaches and superanuated lady-bugs
that fall from the sumptuous boards OF
their arrogant partners. There was an
instance cited to the reporter by Dr.
McCook in which a citigrade, or swift.
stepping water spider, had caught q
minnow three times as long and foul
times as heavy as itself, There is also
authority, verified by no less person
than j. Proctor Knott, of Kentucky, in
letter to DR.. McCook, accompanied
by a sketch of the murder, for the
statement that, in Louisville, a spider
entangled mouse in his web and left
him hanging by his tail, head down
ward, until the attention of some
humanitarans was attracted, not, how.
ever, before the unhappy mouse had
suffered a death of lingering agony
from congestion of the brain. After
this, if evolution be fact, man him
: self may with justice fear the rancor
r GUS greed of the developed spider
Much has been said of the softer side
of the spider nature. DR.. McCooL
showed the reporter in popular work
on insects, which personally he did no
in any sense recommend, several storie.
about the susceptibility of these Great
: ures to music and their appreciation O
! it. The falsehood of the statements
was conclusively shown by an expert
ment on the spot, made by DR.. McCool
upon a huge tarantula under a glas
: case by means of a small toy hand-orgal
: and flute. Incredible as it may seen
t it is nevertheless true that during tn,
l rendition of the air, "He is an English
man." from Pinafore, upon this hand
organ directly above his head, the spi
S der maintained dreamy indifference
+ but when the matchless aria that Patt
a sings, known as the flute song, iron
e D." l. Etoile du Mould" was played t.
him, he arose in wrath and madnes