The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-06-03
LEGlONS OF TARANTULAs.

An Army of Giant Spiders on the March.
In almost every part of Texas there
is large burrowing spider commonly
known as the tarantula, though some
naturalists consider such a classified
ton as incorrect. However that may
be, the giant spider of Texas has BODY
equal in size to an ordinary human
thumb, and spread of legs covering an
area of about four inches, while thick
growth of coarse black or brown hair
gives it general appearance anything
but pleasing. The creature, without
being aggressive, is slow to take alarm,
and is one representative of the lower
animal kingdom which seems to have no
fear of man.
Several years ago." says a gentle
man who has large landed interest in
western Texas, Il was taking a trip by
ambulance through the eastern portion
of Williamson county in company with
two companions.
eve had just entered upon wide,
level expanse, then almost devoid of
vegetation, when saw several taran-
tulas crossing the road just ahead of
us.
borrowing the drivers whip,
sprang out and despatched three of
them, when cry of warning from the
ambulance caused me to examine my
surroundings.
81 Immediately became aware that a
| heavier contract confronted me than
was prepared to carry out; for n few
yards away the earth swarmed with big
spiders, moving slowly in the same
direction as those that had first seen.
II hurriedly resumed my seat in the
vehicle, and our party had moved for
ward for some distance without encoun-
tering more tarantulas. when suddenly
we came upon what might be called the
main body of their grand army, march
ing due west. There could be no ques-
ton as to the course pursued, as they
were moving directly toward the sun,
which was then almost down. AS our
route lay southwark, we had come upon
the column at right angle, and on
either hand, as far as the range of
vision extended, there was no apparent
diminution in the spider force, which
moved with the uniformity of trained
army. In this vast concourse about one
square foot seemed the individ ual
marching space allowed.
''Our driver glanced uneasily about
and said something about turning back,
but by this time the spiders had COW
cred the ground in our rear, SO that re-
treat was quite as hazardous as an adj
vance. The horses were urged rapidly
forward.
II suppose some commotion was Gre
ated among the tarantulas Immediately
in the road but those on either side
seemed totally oblivious of our presence.
We felt some uneasiness about the
horses, but they came through without
being bitten.
amid surroundings so distracting I
took little note of the distance travelled,
but we must have gone fully half a
mile before leaving the spiders behind
us.
"Whence came SO grand an army an d
whittier it was tending am unable to
say, but there is little doubt that the
spiders, by some mysterious under
standing, had assembled from con-
siderable territory, and We're moving by
common consent to some more desirable
region"
The gentleman adds that, fearful of
being called a Munchausen, he for a
long time said nothing about this adj
venture, but that he has recently found
an experience similar to his own chron-
icled in the official report of some
United States surveyors, who, while
working in the west, saw vast numbers
of huge, hairy spiders moving in a body
with the regularity of well-disciplincd
soldiers-Youth's Companion.