The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-03-22

Dc - 00D00 D0t0s
It b not senerally known that some
spiders can make q nolse; II fAct, IL b
only recently that this has been estab.
lished beyond dispute, though Il was
discovered hah = centuzy ago that
some species possess stridulatins or
Rans like those OF q cricket or grass
hopper. The present state Of our
knowledge concerning these organs.
the method Of their use. and their pur-
pose IL summarized by n. I. Pocock In
Natural Science. London. Mr.. Pocock
says:
In many spiders, owing to the small
size Of the organs and the shril!ness
of the note. the STIMULATION cannot BE-
heard by human ears, and we can only
infer from analogy that It is actually
produced. In a spider Of the Southern
hemisphere, however, called Thomi-
soides, 1t Is distinctly audible. The Or
gans that produce It consist Of scra-
per formed by sharp tuberclcs ON the
palp, and a ridged area ON the MN.
dible. By drawing the former up and
down over the latter a noise resembling
the buzxlng Of bee is produced. The
palp. 10 should be explained, is a short
limb formed almost exactly like the
legs, blu, never used for walking.
In another group the huge Indian
bird spiders, so-called because they arc
said to entrap and eat birds. sounding
organs Of different kind IRE oft n
found, consisting Of q series Of strings
OF keys and Of strikers, which set than
vibrating.
The purpose Of the sounds has been
much vexed question. The following
recapitulation Of the opinions Of the
best authorities is given by Mr.. PO-
cock:
STIMULATING organs in spiders socm
to exist for two distinct and def sic
purposes. In the case Of Lephtlly.
phantes and Of the species rcf.rr.d
originally to Theridium. the organs are
better developed In the males than the
females, or are exclusively confined to
members Of the former sex. From this
fact, coupled with the circumstance
that the spiders of these two kinds arc,
Judging by analogy. possessed Of au-
ditory organs we may infer, although
rs yet without direct proof, that the
male makes use Of his sounding or
Gans during the period Of courtsh;p.
This. as Is well known. Is time which
to the male Of every species is beset
with exceptional difficulties md dan
gers, owing to the irascible and vora-
cious disposition of the more powerful
female. who will often rather make
meal Of her sutton than mate. Con
sequently. to s0othe her temper and re-
duce her to a proper frame of mind.
he is often driven to practice various
charms and ingenious wiles. The
males, for instance, Of some species of
the Atttdae. or jumping spiders, exc
cute fantastic dances and antics. as
described by Mr.. and Mrs. Peckhnnl,
and, like peacocks. make q display the
while Of whatever plumes or bright
colors they possess. So that. since 1t
seems to be established that the fe-
males Of the Attidae have In all proba-
bility an esthetlc sense which Ia gratl-
fled by the sight Of gaudy ornaments
on members Of the opposite sex, there
appears to be no great extravaganza in
the superstition that the females of the
species Of Theridium and Lophthy.
phantes. like the females Of our song
birds. not to mention nearer allies,
may be charmed by the musical efforts
Of their lovers. But whether this be
the object of the STIMULATION, or wheth.
er 1t be merely used as sign of the
specific identity of the approaching
male. the evidence indicates that II
only serves Its possessor In his rala-
tions with the females Of the same or
of closely allied species
ION the second case. namely, that of
Thomiioides and the Avicularlftiae. In
which the STIMULATING organ 10 brought
to the same state of perfection in the
females as In the males, the spiders
themselves being by analogy unable to
hear. the available evidence shows
that the sound has nothing directly to
do with the relations of one sex to the
other. but that it functions solely as
a danger signal, warning enemies to
keep their distance. While. however.
the signal Is genuine enough in the
large and powerful Aviculariidae. in
Thomisoides 1t g altogether fraudulent.
since the spider, which is relatively a
feeble animal, by aping the humminc
Of O bee. succeeds In deluding Its hear
ers into the belief that it possesses
certain dangerous qualities to which
In reality It has no claim