Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-14
THE SPIDER MAKES MUSIC.
Singing Of Two Kinds, Hut Innudt-
bic to Human Ears.

Singing Of Two Kinds, Hut Innudt-
bic to Human Ears.
1t is not generally known that some
spiders can make a noise; In fact, 1t Is
only recently that this has been estab-
1ished beyond dispute, though it was
discovered half century ago that
some species possess stimulating or
gans like those of Il cricket or grass
hopper. The present state of our
knowledge concerning these organs,
the method of their use. and their pur-
pose is summarized by Il. /. Pocock in
Natural Science, London. Mr.. Pocock
says:
In many spiders, owing to the small
size of the organs and the shrillness
of the note, the STIMULATION cannot be
heard by human ears, and we can only
infer from analogy that it is actually
produced. In Il spider of the Southern
hemisphere, however, called Thomi-
soides, it is distinctly audible. The Or
gans that produce it consist Of scra-
per formed by sharp tubercles OH the
palp. and ridged area on the man
dible. BY drawing the former up and
down over the latter Il noise resembling
the buzzing of bee is produced. The
palp, is should be explained, is Il short
limb formed almost exactly like the
legs. but never used for walking.
In another group the huge Indian
bird spiders, so-called because they are
said to entrap and eat birds, sounding
organs Of q different kind are often
found, consisting Of Il series Of strings
of keys and of strikers, which set them
vibrating.
The purpose of the sounds has been
4 much vexed question. The following
reorganization Of the opinions Of the
best authorities is given by Mr.. Po-
cock:
Stimulating organs in spiders seem
to exist for two distinct and definite
purposes. In the case Of Lephthy>
phantes and of the species referred
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 are,
judging by analogy, possessed of au-
ditory organs we may infer, although
as yet without direct proof, that the
male makes use Of his sounding or
gans during the period of courtship.
This, as is well known, is time which
to the male Of every species is beset
with exceptional difficulties and dan
gers, owing to the irascible and yora-
cious disposition of the more powerful
female. who will often rather make
meal of her sutton than mate. Con-
sequent1y, to soothe her temper and re-
duce her to proper frame Of mind
he is often driven to practice various
charms and ingenious wiles. The
males, for instance, Of some species of
the Attidae, or jumping spiders, exc
cute fantastic dances and antics, as
described by Mr.. and Mrs. Peckham,
and. like peacocks, make a display the
while Of whatever plumes OIL bright
colors they possess. So that, since it
seems to be established that the fe-
males of the Attidae have in all proba-
bility an esthetic sense which is graft
fed by the sight of gaudy ornaments
on members of the opposite sex, there
appears to be no great extravaganza in
thessupposition that the females of the
species of Theridium and Lephthy-
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 it be merely used as a sign Of the
specific identity of the approaching
male. the evidence indicates that it
only serves it's possessor in his rela-
tons with the females Of the same Or
of closely allied species.
ION the second case, namely. that OF
Thomisoides and the Avicularli'lae, in
which the STIMULATING org'n is 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 rs
a danger signal, warning enemies to
keep their distance. While, however,
the signal is genuine enough in the
large and powerful Aviculariidae. in
Thomisoides it IS altogether fraudulent,
since the spider, which is relatively Il
feeble animal, by aping the humming
Of bee, succeeds in delllding Its hear
ers into the belief that it possesses
certain dangerous qualities to, which
in reality it has no claim"