The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-02-24
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BIRD:EkTINC SPIDER.
The RepuIsiye Creature Lies in Wait
for its Victims.

The RepuIsiye Creature Lies in Wait
for its Victims.
There is one spider larger than tie
common tarantula which is abundant
enough to be an object of dread in tie
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 ana
even small chickens. 1t builds us
nests in the trees and there lies IN
wait, Just as the house spider does for
flies, leaping upon its victims like
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,
says a scientific writer, | used 10 pass
an old tree, the trunk of which was
slightly followed. Beneath the over
hanging bark above the hollow fam
| ily of bats had affixed themselves. SIX
Of them, hanging by their toes. noses
| downward. They always chung in thh
| form of a triangle, three bats in iae
upper row; then row or two. 4 sin@i"
| bat Mt the bottom. One day | missed
| the Iowermost one but the next day bis
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 that probably bird spider had cap
| tured him.
| At another time | was hunting along
shore for small birds among the sea
grapes, the hanging racemes OF creamy
Whi.e flowers attracting birds and in
sectS. owning to the honey which they
contained. The first bird l shot there
was a black and yellow ''susar-eater,'
so called from its liking for sugar ana
all sweet things, n frequent visitor %
the sugar plantations during the boil
ing season. 1t fell as l fired into
dense cluster of sea-grapes. Another
bird attracted my attention just inen,
and. fivst noting the location of the
one I Lad shot, went in pursuit OF
the second. / soon returned. but could
not find my bird. though 1 knew IL
must be somewhat near.
As was peering through the leaves.
however, slight rustling drew my III
mntion 10 a very comical sight. II
was a large lizard which, with one
foot placed upon the bird had shot.
was inteEtly watching me with h-s
diamond-bright eyes. He had stripped
off some of the feathers from the dead
bird. which he was hastily deyourin@.
having first drawn it some distance
from the spot where it had fallen. \
tuft of yellow feathers stuck TO ais
nose, and these he vainly endeavorej
: TO scratch off with the claws of hi'
right forefott, ut the same time eyciE2
me snsp!ciously First. lie would max,
, a dig at his nose then cock his hsa,
over to one side with n malicious Il an
= in his eyes. as if TO ask what | was 70
ing TO 10 about it, The whole proceed
irg seemed to me 80 entertaining thar
:. as there were sugar-eaters in plenty
: l was ready to leave Mr.. Lizard i'll nc
+ sessi, On and go of ia search of anot!A
n bird.
Is But suddenly, just as l was turnin
y away. 4 black, hairy object fell upo
= the lizard. There was a short. shar
4 struggle and my predatory friend wa
4 still i'll death.
:, l was much disguested at the term
< nation Of the adventure | might easil
e. have killed the spider (for such he "
at but did not. i left him to enjoy
ur double dinner of bird and lizard.