The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-04-18
LEBANON. OREGON. FRIDAY. April. I8 1871
TARANTuLA AGAINST cENTlPEoE.
some Interesting BATTLES Between ven-
omous and Ferocious Creatures.

One afternoon last week there was
an interested crowd of amusement
seekers in and in front of the large side
windows of Knox & Van Haren's drug
store. Several days before two cent?
pedes, one large and the other small,
were brought into the store, and also
a tarantula. They were left in sep
arate receptacles, and all alive.
On this particular afternoon II was
determined to see how the animals
would act when placed together. A
layer of sand. about an inch thick, was
spread over the bottom of n glass
globe, and first the two centipedes were
dropped In and then horned toad
His majesty with the horns took no
part in the trouble which disturbed the
other two. He seemed to be acting
simply as the referee of the fight. The
two eentipedes crawled over him and
rolled over him. but hardly awakened
his sleepy nature.
Not so the others. They circled two
or three times around the globe and
finally came in each others way. Each
desired to crawl over the other and the
battle began. Ii was short but Il was
exciting. No two pugilists ever went
after each other with more vim or Iaore
apparent determination to do each 9TH
er harm than did these two centipedes.
Their catlike claws were repeatedly
imbedded in each others bodies, but
the smaller one could not stand the
strain, and when they came together
for the third time. about two minutes
after they were first put in. they clinched
and wound about each other. keeping
their claws going in scissor fashion
upon each others bodies until the
smaller ceutipedc dropped out dead.
The body was taken out of the globe.
and soon after the tarantula was
dropped in. The centipede had not
had time to recover any strength after
his battle with his fellow, and his
sting had lost its death-dealing quail
ties. so that this battle was also short.
The two animals closed only twice
when the forceps of the tarantula
crushed through the head of the larger
centipede, and he died quickly.
One of the company who had watched
the two battles. impressed with the
way the centipede fought in the first
battle. ventured the assertion that the
centipede was the better fighter. He
knew where one could be obtained aud
he went after It; the crowd waited.
pede nearly four and half inches
long. 1t was Immediately dropped iu-
to the globe. and the fight, which was
then begun. lasted for fully three.
quarters of an hour. and WAS exceed.
ing savage while it lasted. The taran.
tula did most of the fighting. but after
the first attack invariably got the worst
of the round.
The tarantula fights with a pair o.
pincers. which are thrust out Just be
low or from the lower part of the had
( These are very hard, and strong enough
/ to leave marks upon lead pencil. The
4 centipede fights with the double line
Z of cat-like claws which are ranged in
rows along the side of the body. In
lighting the tarantula spreads himself
out, aud. after backing away after the
manner of a crawlish until he can get nc
further. springs upon the enemy. thrust
ing out the pincers aud grasping what
ever portion of the body of the enemy
comes within reach.
In the battle in the globe the two
came together for a dozen or NOR,
rounds. breaking away and returning
to the opposite side of the globe at th,
close of each. Finally the two came
together and the centipede seemed tc
get the hold he had been looking for
and the tarantula's body was quickly
wrapped up in the fold of the armed
body of his opponent Meanwhile tin,
hundred claws of the centipede wer'
working rapidly aud with such effec
that the life of the tarantula was sooI
over. The victorious centipede di,
not come out uuscathed as the forcep
of the tarantula had pierced his bod
in five places. from which the blacl
life iiuid was running. He survived
the battle only few hours.-SGn Dieg
IigitO1