The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-24
STREET OF SPIDERS.
CURIOUS DISCOVERIES MADE IN A
FLORIDA THlCKET.

"y'''''""S Disappesranco Explained
Frnitiike Crab--Trioks Of Nature Pro-
tect tho DefenseIess.
Once, In attempting TO force my way
through tho thick bay cedar underbrush
OF ono OF the smaller and outer keys Of
the Florida reef l suddenly broke into
an opening which had tho appearance
OF narrow street or trail The brush
was six or eight feet in height and re-
markably thick. and the heat was intol-
cradle. TheSranches and leaves which
were interlaoed formed perfect net
work and gave shelter to innumerable
crabs, which had taken possession Of
old birds nests, while under foot the
eggs and newly hatched terms almost
covered the ground.
Once in the opening or street il 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-
walls 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 doubling the evidence of
my eyes, and as looked the first yell
low spider Of the series disappeared.
There was no doubt about it. At first
30 striking and gaudy, it slowly faded
away, and through the web could see
other yellow spiders beyond, suggest
ing that it was no illusion.
While / stood wondering in tho hot
sun the spider solved the mystery by
appearing again, first dimly, then like
many spiders quivering in 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 switch held,
whereupon it deliberately began to
swing its huge body, imparting to the
entire web vibratory motion which
increased in rapidity until the body of
the spider began to grow fainter, and
in few moments became invisible. It
was all very simple when understood.
The spider when alarmed began to
swing, gradually increasing the motion
until it disappeared orcould not be fol-
lowed by the eye. Thinking the case
might be exceptional. I again touched
the spider. and again 1t 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.
velvetlike markings, hanging in the
sun like a great topaz, it's 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, delicate feather and q mot
ley array OF flies and other insect folk.
At first the spider paid me scant atten-
tion, then l saw 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. 1t
was the spiders defense and protection
from enemies.
Certain birds undoubtedly preyed
upon the spiders, and this faculty Of
mysteriously disappearing had OH more
than one occasion served it well. L
could easily imagine the astonishment
of the bird when darting down to seize
the plump and snowy spider to find that
it had slipped away.
There was much in this street of yel-
low spiders to distract the mind from
the intense heat that poured down from
the almost vertical sun. In the middle
~
clump of cactus, with here and there a
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
/ saw ripe fruit Of the cactus move !;
then, to my amazement, 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 sec the others follow it, but nothing
of the kind occurred. walked along
and placed myself in position to see
behind the 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 / saw that it was a crab, a
crab with 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, protective resemblance so
perfect that the crab was safe from
sharp eyed enemies, and should have
passed it by had it remained quiet, but
the phenomenon Of moving fruit at
tracted my attention and led to its dis
covery.
For some distance followed this
street of spiders, creeping beneath the
webs when / could, and everywhere
these tricks of nature to protect the de-
fenseleA were apparent. The eggs Of
the gulls simulated the sand in color;
tho littlo mantis, which clung TO the
big cedar, was the exact tint Of the
leaves and dofied detection until acci-
dentally brushed off. Over all life i'm
the secluded spot nature had thrown
her protecting mantle of mimicry. -