The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-09
The TeIRa Tarnntula.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Times
thus writes 10 that paper:
I believe the impression prevails among
Eastern people that the large. hairy spider,
known as the tarantula, is so common IN
Texas As 10 make even sleeping dangerous
and dificult The truth is that tarantulas are
somewhat rare. During residence OF htteen
wears in Texas, / have seen but two live
tarantulas, most of my acquaintance with the
tribe having been confined TO the half-dOzen
specimens | have seen neatly preserved IN
alcohol.
They are sufficiently repulsive in appear
once however. 20 impress the behOlder with
the conviction that the country is full OF
them. when he has. by any chance, stumbled
upor. one. The creature goes walking lei
surely along with none OF the steaithy creep;
ing or swift scamperng of Its smaller and
lose identified relatives. II does not even
think Il necessary TO give the road 10 any IN
dividual it may chance to meet but walks
serenely on. the very Sullivan OF the insect
tribe. As general thing, it doesn't need to
give the road. the other party dong that Win
all possible haste, ..-,-
fight" and will make the most surprising
leaps. sometimes springing upon its discoin-
flied enemy, who cannot get rid of 1t fast
enough It looks sufficiently formidable 10
make the strongest heart quail Its huge
body (huge in comparison with other spiders,
mean. and its long legs are covered with
thick growth of coarse. stlh hair. The black,
horny mandibles look fully equal TO anything
cruel or deadly, and one begins 20 think thai
the stories of the South American tarantuas,
which catch and deyOur humming birds, are
very tame in comparison.
The prosaic truth is, however, that the Ia
rantula is formidable only in looks. His
bark is waur than his bite according 10 the
old Scotch proverb. The wound swells and
reddens for time, it is true. with that pecu
liar look q spider bite always has. as though
little red veins were branching off from 1t;
but il produces no slOughing, and the pain 10
I ION over The bite of the little black gar
den spider Nh insect scarcely larger than
pin-head is far more painful and serious. The
Imagination of the victim, doubtless, causes
him 10 suffer tOrtures. after he has been bit
ten by a tarantula; but let him take comfort,
there are worse insects in many countries.
The Texas tarantula belongs TO the family
of borrowers. and his home is a long tunnel
sloping downward for several feet, and then
rising and pursuing such long and devious
way that it is a matter of great difficulty TO
dig one of them out. At the door of his house
one catches glimpse. sometimes of the soil
tary householder. looking at the landscape or
taking breath of fresh air. or. perhaps, wait
ing for some unwary beetle or butterfly TO pass
that way. On the slightest motion he is gone,
and there is but the smooth. round hole. whose
sides this little Dlasterer has made as hard and
as firm as the sides Of an earthen jug.
Where is his trowel, | wonder And who
taught him that dizziness of touch, and tho
skill with which. without line or compass, he
fashions the perfect circle of that long smooth
tunnely
The tarantula commits widespread destruc-
ton among the insects in his neighbOrhood;
it is but right, therefore. and according TO the
natural order of things. that he should have
his enemy. too. and be forced TO skulk and
hide and be oftentmes overtaken. and have
his brief holiday of life brought 10 a tragic
ending. His enemy is said 20 be the Texas
horned frog" that absurd little burlesque on
the lizard family which abOunds on the Texas
plains The horned frog apparently has no
eye for beauty. and his heart must be u
stranger 10 the sensation of fear. since he does
not quail before this grim and hairy monster,
which is not many degrees smaller than him
self
The frog waits at the door of the spiders
house. as grim and relentless as the messen-
ger with the bOw-string. his rough gray body
lying mOtionless. and not TO be distinguished
from the surrounding earth. SO perfect IS the
deception and so quick are his motions that
even the many-eyed spider fails 20 detect his
presence. and incautiously ventures forth
Quick rs a fash Of light his enemy is upon
him. and the fierce struggle begins.
The scaiy back and the horny head of the
frog render the .arantulas bites harmless
and he spends his strength and fights his
battle in vain. In few minutes the struggle
is over. and the frog deyOurs his victim
wearing meanwhile m expression of beatitude
impossible 10 describe. The wanderer about
the fields will find nowhere moro wonderful
picture than this contest between two OF tho
strongest creatures that ever met, fought and
died upon the field of conflict.