The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1896-01-22
rs hlre is DEADLY.
People should BeWare OF Pretty yellow
Spotted Spider.


Spotted Spider.
Next time anybody is bitten by a
"poisonous black spider" he will
confer a favor on Professor III. III.
Behr if he will refrain from crush
ing it long enough to give tho pro-
fessor chance to be bitten too. He.
would like to demonstrate to that
part of the public who feel finioky
about sucll things that tho bite of
the same poisonous black spider"
is really absolutely harmless and no
moro painful than the sting of a
wasp or n mosquito or even nsflea of
the California genus. Mr.. Behr is
professor of entomology and arane-
ology and few other sciences at the
big academy in Market street. and
what he doesn't know about insects
of all kinds is hardly worth talking
about.
But If any one should happen to
be bitten by n small "black spider
with four or five scarlet spots on It's
back he had better prepare to guz-
zle brandy for a day or two while u
strong armed attendant rubs am.
monia into tho woundewith ono hand
and keops the victim from squirm-
ing with the other. Tho professor
calls that little spotted insect tho
Iatrodectes maotans and says it is
the most Venomous of all spiders,
not oven excepting the tarantula,
which is about ton times as big. It's
ordinarily not bigger thann French
pea. but boasts of considerably moro
beauty than is commonly found
among spiders.
It's body is round and covered with
beautiful velvety black growth OF
short fuzzy hair, with tho scarlet
spots aforementioned on its back
1t has eight rather long legs for suoh
n small body and eight eyes, though
thev cannot be taken as distinguish
ing features of this particular style,
as tho professor says all spiders have
eight logs and an equal number of
owes. But it is by tho location of tho
ewes in tho anatomy of the insect
that tho olassifications arc mado,
and rs thero are somo 8, 600 or q, 600
speoies known to araneologists it is
no small task to distinguish which
is which" +" This one, however, may
D0 GOlu ny bllo AoOO 0H"' 49,
eyes are located in squad in front,
with the remaining four grouped in
pairs on oaoh sido of its head and a
iittlo to tho rear of tho othors. Tho
eyes are bulging and CLASSY and of n
deep greenish hue. It's mandibles
arc not worry large, but, as many VIC
tins can attest, arc capable of doing
great damage It's action is quick
and alert.
Professor Behr laughs at the idea
that the bite of tho Latrodectos mac
tans is fatal, but he admits that the
pntient suffers tho most rncking tor
lures for several days, aftor which,
if he has been properly treated, re-
oovery is certainty. He says that
many persons may have died from
fright, but never from tho poisonous
effects of the bite. The tarantula,
which is SO universally dreaded, is,
after all, according to Professor
Bchr, not Mt all dangerous. Though
its lite causes considerable pain and
swelling about tho wound, ho says
it is not fatal. It's bite is not nearly
so dangerous as that of the katipoi"
| but, bo that as it may, it is more
formidable and ugly looking, and
ono might as woll bo poisoned ms
scared to eath.-San Francisco EX-
| aminer.