Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-28
eIRD:EATINc SPIDER.
The RspuIsive Creature Lies In Wait
for its Victims.

The RspuIsive Creature Lies In Wait
for ito Victims.
There Is one spider larger than the
common tarantula which Is abundant
enough to be an object of dread In be
forests Of the Guinas. This is the great
bird spider, the ''mygate avicularla.'
which catches and kills not only birds,
but lizards, other small reptiles and
even small chickens. 1t builds .ts
nests in the trees and there lies in
walt. just as the house spider does for
flies, leaping upon its victims like n
tiger. 1t Is. in fact, the tiger Of the
tribe, end Is justly feared by both
birds ana human beings.
In my excursions into the woods,
says n scientific writer, l used 10 pass
an old tree. the trunk of which was
slightly followed Beneath the over.
hanging bark above THE hollow fam
lily OF bats had affixed themselves. six
of them, hanging by their toes, noses
downward. They always chung in the
form OF triangle, three bats in tie
upper row; then row or two. single
bat at the bottom. One day / missed
the lowermost one, but the next day his
place had been supplied. The day fol-
lowing he, too, was gone, and when |
inquired of my guide the reason and
manner of his taking Off he informed
ME thai probably bird spider had cap
ture1 him.
At another time l was hunting along
shore for small birds among the sea-
grapes, the hanging racemes of creamy
While flowers attracting birds and in
scots. owning to the honey which they
contained. The first bird shot there
was n black and yellow 'sugar-eater."
so called from its liking for sugar and
all sweet things, frequent visitor 20
the sugar plantations during the boil
ing season. 1t fell as l fired into q
dense cluster of sea-grapes. Another
bird attracted my attention just then.
and. frst noting the location of the
ole l had shot, l went in pursuit.. OF
the second. soon returned. but could
not find my bird, though l knew ne
iaust he somewhat near.
A. was peering through the leaves.
however slight rustling drew my at
!cntion TO a very comical sight. 1t
was a large lizard which. with one
foot placed upon the bird had shot.
was intently watching me with his
diamond-bright eyes. He had stripped
of some of the feathers from the dead
bird. which he was hastily devouring,
having first drawn it some distance
from the spot where it had fallen. a
tlift Of yellow feathers stuck to mis-
nose, and these he vainly endeav0red
to scratch off with the claws OF his
right forefott, at the same time cycling
me snsp!ciously. First, he would make
a dig ut his ncse then cock his head
over to enc side with malicious CLEAN
in his eyes. as il to ask what l was go
ing to DO about it. The whole proceed.
Ing seemed to me so entertaining that,
us there were sugar-eaters in plenty,
l was ready to leave Mr.. Lizard in pos
session and go Off in search of another
bird.
But suddenly, just as l was turning
away. black. hairy object fell upon
the lizard. There was n short, sharp
struggle and my predatory friend was
still in death.
l was much disguested at the terml.
nation OF the adventure. l might easily
have killed the spider flor such he was)
but ! did not left him to enjoy his
double dinner Of bird and lizard.