The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-08-28
STREET OF SPIDERS.
CURIOUS DISCOVERIES MADE in A
FLORIDA THlCKET.
Immense Webs Woven by Yellow Spiders.
A Mysterious Disappearance Explained.
A FruitlilSe ~Crab-Trict.s OF Nature Pro-
tect the DefenseIess.

"a Idb vi ~
tect the DefenseIess.
Once, il attempting to force my wav
through the thick bay cedar underbrush
of one of the smaller and outer keys Of
the Florida reef | suddenly broke into
an opening watch had the appearance
Of il marrow street on trail. The brush
was six or eight feet ii height ana re-
markedly thick, and the heat was intel
cradle. Tie branches and leaves which
were iEterlaeGd formed 4 perfect net
work ard gave shelter to innumerabie
crabs, which had taken possession of
old birds nests, while under foot the
eggs aud newly Matched terms almost
covered the ground.
Once il the opening CT street it was
found to be about seven feet across,
winding away out OF sight, bat my way
was blocked by several curious obsta-
cles-a succession Of webs stretched
vertically across the pathway at inter
walls Of five or six feet. They were Of
extraordinary strength and We're thrown
out and poised in a marvellous manner.
In the center of each of these silkcn bar
riers chung a huge yellow spider, so ug.
" and conspicuous that | stopped be-
fore tho first doubling the evidence Of
my eyes, and as I looked the first vel
low spider Of the series disappeared.
There was no doubt about it. AT first
SO striking and CANDY, it slowly faded
away, and through the web | could see
ether 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 quivering III the strong
light, finally resolving itself into one
huge yellow fellow that moved like a
pendulum to and fro and then stopped.
touched it gently with a switch | held,
whereupon it deliberately began to
swing its huge body. imparting to the
entire web a vihratory motion which
increased in rapidity until the body Of
the spider began to grow fainter, and
IL 4 few moments became invisible. 1t
was all very simple when understood.
The spider when alarmed began 10
swing, gradually increasing the motion
until it disappeared or could not be fol
lowed by the eye. Thinking the case
might be exceptional, | again touched
the spider, ard again it literally swung
itself out Of sight.
Crawling beneath the web, / con
fronted the next spider, which also.was
yellow or saffron in color, with black,
velyetlike 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
ing bird, q delicate feather and a MOT
ley array Of flies and other insect folk.
At first the spider paid me scant atten-
ton, then | saw q slight ~convulsive
movement of its legs as it impaired the
first long swing to its hammocklike
web that put this wonderful life saving
device, for this it was, in motion. It
was the SPIDERS defense and protection
from enemies.
Certain birds undoubtedly preved
upon the spiders, and this faculty Of
mysteriously disappearing had Oh more
than 4 occasion served it well. |
could easily imagine the establishment
of the bird when darting down to seize
the plump and snowy spider to find that
it had slipped away.
There was much III 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 a turn, grew q
clunp CT cactus, with here and there Il
ripe fruit rich in the purple of full ma
turity-a brilliant contrast to the green
leaves. As | stood watching the hermit
crabs dropping from the bushes and
scurrying away over the sand | thought
| say a ripe fruit of the cactus move /;
then, to my amaZement, it passed di-
reetly out Of sight, net after the fash
len Of the spiders, Int hy slipping around
one Of the big leaves. Ialmost expected
to see the others follow 1t, but nothing
of the kind occurred. I walked along
and placed myself III d position to see
behind the bread, fist, poar shaped leaf.
There was the purple object, now mor-
ing cautiously around with the evident
intention Ct keeping Itself cut Of sight,
and then | saw that ii was a crJb. 4
crab with a purple back TIE exact t."a
Of the fruit, while its general shape,
when the legs were tucked up beuea..:
the body, made the crab Il mimic Of tie
cactus fruit, a protective resemblance ID
perfect that the crab was safe fsar.
sharp eyed enemies, aad | should have
passed it by mad 1t remained quiet. E@t
the phenomenon Of moving fcai5 ~
tracted my attention and led to i'm Gis-
covery.