The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-06-10


little brown-colored fellow, and
made its home under one of the
counters. One day the spider discov-
cred a small snake near the nest,
and it at once determined to capture
the reptile before it had a chance to
get him. The snake was what is
known as a milk snake, and didn't
seem to be in any hurry about get
ting away. The spider was already
at work when the storekeeper dis
covered the snake. With all the care
possible the spider placed a loop
around the neck of the snake, Weav-
ing the little silken-i Ike thread with
wonderful rapidity.
When the spider was satisfied
that the cable was sufficiently strong
to support the weight of the snake
it began to arrange for pulley-like
tackle, and in a little while the
snakes head was lifted off the floor
and gradually its whole body was
lifted off the floor and swung
around between the top of the
counter, where the spider had it's
home.
ITO make doubly sure of it's work
the little spider passed rapidly up
and down the cable adding strand
after strand of the web. When this
was accomplished to the entire salts
faction of the spider it then began
the most wonderful part of it's whole
work. 1t watched every chance, and
whenever the snakes head was turn
ed to one side it would throw strand
of web over its head, and in less than
half an hour the snakes mouth was
bound firm and fast-perfectly muz-
zled so that it was impossible to bite
the spider.
Before the work was finished the
little spider showed signs of break
ing down, moving down with I'M
steady gait but it did not retire to
it's den before the snake was bound |
so that it was impossible for it to |
get away Gentlemen who witnessed
this truly wonderful feat say it wa
five days before the snake died. OF |
course if the spider had been poison |
Gus it could have FASTENED it's death |
but at no time did it sting the snake |
This is one of the most remarkable |
and wonderful spider stories which |
has ever reached us, and it is vouch- |
ed for by some of the best people liv-
ing in Chumung county.
Spiders Foot Across.
''The spiders in the Middle Cotton |
Wood Pass are certainly large ones, |
but l have long wanted to make an
examination tof he mygale spider
found in South America. These spi-
ders are said to be among the very
largest spiders in the world, covering
a space of ten or twelve inches with |
legs extended 1t is said that the
muscular strength of this spider is
very great, and that they have fangs
an inch long, and it is stated that
many people in the West Indies use
the fangs for tOothpicks. There is
said to be some curative properties
in the fangs which preserve the teeth
and prevent toOthache. Whenever
one of these spiders seizes its prey
it buries its fangs in it. They some
times capture very large birds, lurk
ing silently about and springing up
on it when not expected They do
not use a web for entrapping, but
they make strong cables of the web
for hanging up birds, frogs and in
sects after they are killed 1t is sup
posed that the spiders are fond of
dried meat, and take this means of
procuring and saving it for further
use. There is singular spider
found in Florida, known as the My
gale FlOridas, which is a large and
lSlOClOuS CACdIuI (, anu With ndDlIS
almost similar to its congeners found
in South America. Years ago they
were eaten by Indians, and were es-
teemed by them as necessary to
health When Florida was first ced-
ed to the United States there were
millions of these spiders, but civili-
zation has about killed them out.
Fine specimens are now difficult to
obtain.
Give the house spider a chance;
don kill them; they will do lots of
/ service in destroying flies as well as
poisonous insects"
SPENCE WAS DEFEATED.