The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-05

up in n web on the PIANO above tho bio
spiders, ARE another spider hung
listlessly, wrapp.s I'D up in his long, hairy
legs When the bits-headed spider en-
tered the hairy spiders ~eb the latter
unwrnpped himself and greeted his visit
or cordially. a short confab took place
between tho two, and then the hairy
spider dropped quickly down to the big
brown SPIDERS den and the spider with
tho big head returned hurricdly 10 tho
little black spiders corner.
The sequel proved that the big-hcaded
spider had, beyond all question of doubt,
arranged a duel between tho littlo black
spider and tho big brown one. he being
the second of tho former, the hairy spi-
der having consented to be tho big
brown fellows next friend in tho affair
A few seconds after the big-hcadcd
spider had returned to the black spiders
corner tho two giidcd out, reached tho
big brown spiders web. advanced almost
to the center OF 1T, and stopped The
brown spider and his hairy attendant
soon afterward emerged from tho for
Tcr's don and advanced toward tho cen
ter OF the web, stopping within an inch
or 50 of the black spider and his second.
Other members of tho spider COLONY
must have bad intuitiyc knowledge Of
what was going on, for spiders of all
sizes and shapes camc speeding to tho
scene to get u view OF what was evident
ly to be fierce encounter When tho
two principal spiders had taken their
positions their respective attendants re-
tired sonlc distance from them. Then
the little black spider and his big brown
foe rushed together.
They struggled moment. separated,
rushed together again, and tumblcd and
tossed one another about until tho web
on which they fought swaycd and bent
and broke hero and there into ragged
holes. All tho while the hairy spider
and the spider with tho big head hovorcd
frantically each about his principal as
II coaching tho fighters as to the best
advantage. The spectator spiders
showed no little excitement themselves,
and ran to and fro along the edges of the
sash around tho pane Us the fight pro-
gresscd. Whom the battle was at it's
height one round-bodicd black spider of
the same species with the littlo black
ono i'll the fight, probably fearing for
the safety of his prototype, made Il rush
into tho field to take Il hand in thu
light. Before lie reached the contestants,
however, he WAS collarcd by both tho
hairy spider and the big-hcadcd spidcr.
and hustled back into the crowd so quick
that he seemed dazed. and remained
pcrched on tho edge of the sash until
the light was over without as much as
moving q leg.
While this exciting side incident was
engaging the attention Of tho seconds.
tho principals separated, each rotroatine
acouplc ofinches. The attendant spiders
rushed each to his principals sido and
ior several seconds things remained
qulct. Then tho pugnacious little black
spider moved slowly forward, and the big
fellow advanced to meet him. When
they were nearly together the little
spider shot forward like u flash.
bounced upon tho big one, and
almost rs quickly dartcd back again.
That was n fatal blow TO the big spider.
In that sudden dash the little spider
had chopped of one OF the BIZ. ones
long forclcgs close 10 his body as neat
ly as he had cut the cables of his foes
intruding web. Tho loss of his lcr
greatly disabled the big spider, and the
little fellow WAS able to fight all around
him, to the visible distress OF the
brown spiders hairy second. The black
spider iartcd at his big antagonist with
the rapidity OF lightni and it was
not long before he had severed the
other forelcg Of tho big spider rs com
plctcly as he had tho first one. Tho
brown was now almost totally help
less. BY aquick flank movement the lit
Tie black mounted the others huge body,
ana closed his jaws firmly in tho back
OF his neck. The big spider noundcrcd
and struggled, but all to no purpose.
Ills life blood was fast being drained
by his agile foe, and in Il minute after
the black spider had got his clutch on
the brown ones neck the big fellow
hung shrivcllcd and lifcless in tho
wreck OF tho web he had tried to en-
largo at the expense of his bold and
nervy little neighbor
But tho little black spider Vas not
with tho death of tho en-
croaching spider and tho ruin to his
web. When he found his foe was dead
he made circuit Of the outer edge of
the web, cutting every stay cable and
guy web from its fastcnings, until the
limp body OF its late occupant and the
dlsmantlcd web fell together on tho
window ledge, among mass OF dead
and shrivelled flies and beetles wings
and heaps OF dusty cast-off webs Then
the victorious littlo black, escorted by
both tho big-hcadcd and tho hairy
spiders, returned TO his nest in tho
corner The spider spectators seam
pcrcd back to their respective homes,
and in fow seconds tho great spider
colony had resumed all its wontcd uict.