The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-01
News Of Recent Science
PEcuLIARrrIEs or sp1pERs.

A very interesting chapter is devoted to
spiders and other insects of the same or
der. n DR.. Shufeldt's work on Natural
HISTORY of the United States. An engag-
ing trait about the female spider OF the
family dolornedes may not be generally
know. Madame, who is much the larger
and more powerful member of the house
hold, often develops such exuberant fond
ness for paterfamilias as TO make a meal
Of him. Sometimes she lies in ambush
for him; at others she seizes him in the
very ecstacies of conubling coddling. Be
ing conscious that he possesses a truly
fatal gift of beauty, he is wary and eau
tious in approaching his mate.
In some species, however the two sexes
live in great harmony, even peacefully oc-
cupying the same cell. Most of them ex-
hibit great affection for their young.
In the case of nearly all of them, they
are both crafty and skiIlful in atacting
and capturing their prey, and many OF
them possess an intelligence quite equal
to that exhibited on the part Of some
ants. Speaking of ants reminds me of
those interesting cases of protective MINI
icry' in spiders, for in Brazil, in certain
localities, there are species of ants and
species of spiders SO much alike that the
ordinary observer can by no means tell
them apart. Some species again closely
resemble beetles. or even small mollusks,
and there is one species Sc much like lit
tie crab that most people would declare
it was crab. Certain insectivorous birds
often feed upon spiders, but other spiders
are so protected by spiny outrowths. or
incased in dense horny 5aFrnor, that the
feathered denizens Of the air let them Sc
Verely alone. Many reptiles and small
mammals feed up on these insects, while
spiders kill and devour each other, and
other insects also kill them. When COL
lecting, years ago, in Louisiana, 1 found
that one Of the best placese to look for
spiders was in the newly formed nests
of the so-called ud-daubers'-a kind OF
wasp. These insects stung spiders, par
alyzed them, and then sealed. them up in
their nests as a food supply for their
yonug."
The common insect known in America
as the rearhorse presents more interest
ing characteristics. 1t is so called from
the manner in which ii holds itself and
the position of the anterior pair of legs.
giving fancied resemblance to a horse
in the act of rearing. A more universal
name is mantis, a Greek word meaning
soothsayer. One species is called the pray
ing mantis, from the devout attitude and
solemn aspect which it continually as
sumes. The Greeks credited it with sup
ernatural powers. The Turks claim that
a mantis is constantly engaged in prayer,
with it's face toward Mecca. In Europe
these insects are also known as nuns
or preachers" or saints" A little know
ledge of their characteristics, however,
teaches US that they are not the saints.
but the tigers of the insect world" They
prey voraciously upon the smaller fry of
insects and fight desperately among them
selves In China they are kept in bamboo
DIR. Shufeldt has tested the ipugnacious
qualities of the American rearhorses and
has found that they fight to bloody fin
ish. the victor generally biting off the
head of the slain and devouring por-
ton of the softer parts of the body.
It is a. remarkable sight, he tells us.
to watch one of these voracious, Sancti-
monious fiends out on a hunt for food.
A number of years ago he kept large
one twenty-four hours ina box without
anything to eat. 1.-The next afternoon I
let him walk out of his prison onto a win
dow sill, where the window sash was
down, and dozen or more flies had con-
gregated. He came forth with marked
elaboration, and with dignifed mien, as
though he were about TO burst with rage
at the gross insult to which he had-been
subjected. I even thought could detect
the hate in his eye as he glanced obliquely
at me, as his curious, quick moving lit
tie head turned from side to side on the
anterior end of his elongated. semi-erect
prothroax. For all the world he looked
as though he said: Were I big enough
I'd sabre you, you scoundrel, but I'm not:
and, however I'm too hungry, and must
get after some of those flies 1 see over
there then, with an apparent effort he
bottled his rage and, assuming an exceed-
ingly devout air, with his murderous, half
opened forelimbs held in their character
istic devotional attitude in front of him,
he with markedly slow and mincing steps
betook his way silently down the sill close
to the sash. Ever and anon he would
stand motionless as I patiently watched
him. He would then cock his head from
side to side ina vicious, knowing manner.
as much as TO say. 4 know what I'm up
to. but those flies don't Just then a
big blue one lit directly in front Of him |
zip, flew out one of the fellows forelegs. |
and his victim was seized in a twinkl:ng |
between the joints as mercilessly az !
though he had fallen between the sharp |
ened, miniature blades OF two saws clos |
ing together with a fiashilke rapidly. The |
other leg a once came into play in steady |
ing his capture in front of his mouth. and |
the fly was soon devoured. Then that |