Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-02-12
THE SPIDER MAN.
Interesting Facts Concerning This
Much-Abused Insect.

Much Abused Insect.
Felix }. Koch. in Our Dumb Anfnats.1
Recently word came from Cincinnati to
the effect that paralysis has laid low the
famous Ohio spider man, William
Holden, who has stored away in his simple
home. not less than 5000 different spiders,
and who is presumed to know more about
these creatures than any single person
alive to-day.
Neatly preserved in countless vials at
the Holden home are the spiders, Red
spiders, black spiders, brown spiders,
green spiders, spiders timer than the
smallest pinhead, and others whose fangs
alone are thicker than the fingers of the
human hand. Poisonous spiders and
harmless ones, pretty combinations of iri-
descent colorings, insects of such sombre
hue that the very monk of old would have
shuddered to clothe himself in such gar
| ments, great hairy creatures that make
the very shoulders run down ones back,
and others which are things of beauty, if
not joys forever.
While still boy Mr.. Holden began the
collection of treacherous little insects.
just how he became possessed of the
hobby he himself says he does not know.
He considers himself, however, disciple
Of DIR. $. p. Hildreth, of Marietta, o. At
the breaking out of the Civil war, in
which he served as captain and quarter
master, Holden was possessed OF a con-
siderable collection but, during his abb
sence at war, the bulk of the lot was in
some way destroyed.
| Undaunted, he began once more, and
to-day his collection is, without doubt,
the second finest in the country, and GER
| tainly the most extensive collection OF
| spiders in Ohio. While many of the
specimens were obtained by exchange,
and very small percentage by purchase,
the owner has collected personally in
North and South Carolina, Massach usetts,
and quite thoroughly over the midland.
In fact, practically all the specimens are
native to the American continent. Quite
a number were obtained from the United
States survey expeditions of few years
ago to the western territories, and from
the eclipse expedition to the South Pa
| cific islands.
Having hit upon place which seems to
promise rich harvest, Holden proceeds to
sweep the shrub or bough with his net.
Then, by means of the forceps he picks
from out the wriggling mass all those
specimens which may prove of value,
either to himself or to the other more
| general collectors, with whom he is in
constant exchange. These insects are then
thrust into the alcohol, which not only
destroys life instantly, but prevents the
spider from shrivelling and shrinking, and
also preserves the pigments.
| The spiders, when assorted, are, of
course, preserved in separate walls, and,
ranging in size from fraction of milli-
meter to two or three inches in length,
their pecuniary value to collectors is in
estimable. A Uruguayan specimen, with
fangs half an inch long, is the second
largest spider on record in this country,
being but little smaller than the famous
monster in the museum at Cambridge,
which was found on the island of Cuba
Four different varieties of the deadly
tarantula were found in the state of Ohio.
| While the best classified collection Of
| spiders is undoubtedly that OF the Ma
tional museum, at Washington, other
magnificent collections are owned by Ma
than Banks, the Washington author; by
j. FL. Emerson, of Salem, Mass, and by
w. FL. Fox, OF Washington, d. G.
Spiders are reputed to be the most OBJ
| servant of all insects. With them, the
student finds that the loss OF a leg is
| quickly repaired with the growth OF an
other. The web, a feature of the spider
species, is made to serve the combined
purpose of a trap and castle.
A female spider will lay, in season,
about a thousand eggs. These are en-
closed as soon as dry, by silken bag,
which is then fastened by the mother
unto herself, so that she may provide for