The age-herald., 1897-08-06
STREET OF SPIDERS
Curious Discoveries That Were Made
 in a Florida ThiCket.
Immense Webs Woven by Yellow spiderS-A Mysterious Disappearance Explained
 Nature Protects the DefenceIess.

through tho thick bay cedar underbrush az ere of the smaller and outer keys oi the Florida reef suddenly broke into all opening which had the appearance of a narrow street or trail. The brush was six CT eight feet in height and re- markedly thick, and the heat was intol erable. The branches and leaves which were interlaced formed perfect net work and gave shelter to innumerabls crabs, which had taken possession of old birds nests, while under foot the eggs and newly matched terms almost covered the ground.
 Once in the opening or street it was found to be about seven feet across, winding away out of sight, but my way was blocked by several curious obsta- cles-a succession of webs stretched vertically across the pathway at inter- vals of five or six feet. They were of extraordinary strength and were thrown out and poised in a marvellous manner. In the center of each of these silken bar riers clung huge yellow spider, so ug ly and conspicuous that stopped be- fore the first doubting the evidence of my eyes, and as I looked the first yell low spider of the series disappeared. There was no doubt about it. At first so striking and gaudy, it slowly faded away, and through the web could ste other yellow spiders beyond, suggest ing that it was no illusion.
 While I stood wondering in the hot sun the spider solved the mystery by appearing again, first dimly, then like : many spiders quiyering in the strong light, finally resolving itself into one huge yellow fellow that moved like a pendulum 10 and fro and then stopped. touched it gently with a switch held, whereupon it deliberately began to swing it's huge body, imparting to the entire web vibrdtory motion which increased in rapidity until the body of the spider began to grow fainter, and in few moments became invisible. II was all very simple, when understood. The spider when alarmed began to swing, gradually increasing the motion until it disappeared or could not be fol lowed by the eye. Thinking thefcase might be exceptional, again touched the spider, and again it literally swung itself out of sight.
 Crawling beneath the web, I con. fronted the next spider, which also was yellow or saffron in color, with black, velvetlike markings, hanging in the sun like a great topaz, its web dotted with the remains of many feasts--emp- ty skeletons of insects, bits of pearly fish scales, perhaps dropped by some pass f,,ry ir6 dol ley array of flies and other insect folk. At first the spider paid me scant atten. tion, then I saw slight convulsive movement of its legs as it imparted the first long swing to it's hammocklike web that put this wonderful life saving device, for this it was, in motion. It was the spider defense and protection from enemies.
 Certain birds undoubtedly preyed upon the spiders, and this faculty oi mysteriously disappearing had on more than one occasion served it we'll. 1 could easily imagine the astonishment of the bird when darting down to seizo the plump and showy spider to find that it had slipped away.
 There was much in this street of yell low spiders to distract the mind from the intense heat that poured down from the almost vertical sun. In the middle of the path, beyond turn, grew a clump of cactus, with here and there q ripe fruit rich in the purple of full ma turity-a brilliant contrast to the green leaves. As stood watching tho hermit crabs dropping from the bushes and scurrying away, over the sand I thought I saw ripe fruit of the cactus move; {; then, to my engagement, it passed di- rectly out of sight, not after the fash ion of the spiders, but by slipping around one of the big leaves. Ialmost expected to see the others follow it, but nothing of the kind occurred. I walked along and placed myself ill position to see behind tho broad, fiat, pear shaped leaf. There was the purple object, now nov ing cautiously around with the evident intention of keeping itself out of sight, and then I saw that it was a crab, q crab with a purple back the exact tint of the fruit, while its general shape, when the legs were tucked up beneath the body, made the crab mimic of the cactus fruit, a protective resemblance so perfect that the crab was safe from i. sharp eyed enemies, and should have ,s- passed it by had it remained quiet but s the phenomenon of moving fruit at tracted my attention and led to its dis 51i icovery.
 1a For some distance I followed this 5 street of spiders, creeping beneath the E. webs when I could, and everywhere - these tricks of nature to protect the de- Iifenseless were apparent The, eggs of +7the gulls simulated the sand ill color; histhe little mantis, which olung to the t1big cedar, was the exact tint of the Ioleaves and defied detection until acei- | dentally brushed off Over all life in sthe secluded spot nature had thrown her protecting mantle of mimicry. = New York Post.