Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-11-05

saw, a big taraptula directly in the
path before me, half hidden beneath
the dead leaf of bread-fruit tree.
l had a stick in my hand, and
poked the spider to make it get
into theopen. Instead Of turning
about to escape it made a leap for
my band. which it missed only by
a few>inches. That was enough.
for me; l did not crave n live tar
antuls for my collection, though a
moment later there was dead spi-
der in the path. Even in death it
is an ugly-appearing thing, large
and hairy, with legs that would
stretch across saucer.
On another. occasion l saw tar
the wall of hut by the
road side, right over the doorway
throf which the occupants of the
hut, Z black woman and her chill
dren, were constantly passing. i
called their attsn ton to the crea-
ture, but they merely glanced at it
carelessly and allowed it to retreat
into the thatch of the roof.
There is, however, one spider
larger than the common tarantula,
whfch-is abundant enough to be an
object of dread in the forests of the
Guianas. This is the great Bird
Spider, the "Mygale avicularia,"
Which catches and kills not only
birds, but lizards, other small rep
tiles. and even young chickens. 1t
builds its nests in the trees and
there lies in wait, just as the house
spider does for flies, leaping upon
lie victims like a tiger. 1t is, in
fact, the tiger of the tribe, and is
justly feared by both birds and
human beings.
In. my excursions into the woods,
/ used to pass an old tree, the
trunk of which was slightly hol-
lowed. Beneath the overhanging
bark above the hollow, a family of
bats had affixed themselves, six of
them, hanging by their toes, and
noses downward. They always
clupg in the form of triangle,
three bats in the upper row, then a
row of two, single bat at the bot
tom. One day l missed the lower
most one, but the next day, his
place had been supplied. The day
following he too was gone; and
when l inquired of my negro guide
the reason and manner of his tax
ing off, he informed me that prob
ably bird spider had captured
him.
AT another time ] was hunting
along shore for small birds, among
the seagrapes, the hanging racemes
of creamy white flowers attracting
birds and insects, owing to the hon.
ey which they contained. The first
bird i.shot was a black and yellow
Sugar eater" so called from it's
liking for sugar and all sweet
things, a frequent visitor to the
sugar plantations during the boil
ing season. 1t fell, as fired, into
a dense cluster of sea-gFapes; an
other bird attracted my attention
just tlien, and first noting the loca-
ton ofthe one 1 had shot went in
pursuit of the second. l soon re-
turned, but could not find my bird,
though knew he was somewhere
near. AS l was peering through
the leaves, however, a slight rust
ling drew my attention to very
comical sight. 1t was a large lizard,
which, with one foot planted on the
bird l had shot, was intently
watching me with his diamond
bright eyes. He had stripped off
some of the feathers from the dead
bird, which he was hastily devour-
ing, having first drawn it some
distance from the spot where it had
fallen. A tuft of yellow feathers
stuck to his nose, and these he
vainly endeavored to scratch off
with the claws of his right fore
foot, at the same Zine cycling me
very suspiciously. First he would
take a dig at his nose, then cock
his head over to one eide with n
malicious CLEAN in his eyes, as if
to ask what 1 was going to do about
it. The whole proceeding seemed
to me so entertaining that, as there
wore sugar-eaters in plenty, 1 was
ready to leave Mr.. Lizard in pos
session and go off in search of an
other bird.
But suddenly, just as was turn
ing away, black, hairy object fell
upon the lizard there was a short,
sharp struggle, and my predatory
friend was still in death.
Twas much Disguised at the ter
mination of the adventure. 1 might
easily have killed the spider flor
such it was), but / did not; 1 left
him to enjoy his double dinner of
bird and lizard.
1t was indeed revolving spec
tacle to see thas horrible thing de-
scend upon its victim. Its bite, or
sting, is said to be extremely pois-
onous, and Lconcluded this must
be so from the expeditions manner
in which it caused the death of
this unlucky littls reptile, itself as
long as its slayer. The incident
made me extremely nervous. The
hideous looking but harmless igua-
mas have a habit of darting noisily
through and over dead leaves on
the ground; aud for a long time at
every rush 1 lwould leap hastily
aside, under the impression that it
was one of these huge and veno-
nous spiders.s
Bill Vsschsr's Fun.
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