Year: 1874

| A writer in the american Naturalist


gives an interesting account of his expe-


rlence in tanning pair of spiders of the


genus Lycosa. These spiders never build


a web, but wander for their prey, hiding


under stones or burrowing in the ground.
Ihey arc large and stout, and covered


with hair; and some Of them, as the ta-


rantula, are formidable insects indeed.
'lle pair IN question were confined in a


clgarbox, covered with pane of glass,


through which their proceedings were


watched. Spiders do not ordinarily man


ltest social qualities; but these, after


their first fear Of each other was over
come, became exceedingly friendly. In


the beginning of their acquaintance both


were tin,id and shy, but in the course of


week they had established a most ami
cable intimacy. They would chase each
other about the box, first one and then
the other being the pursuer. They
would meet together in mimic battle,
rearing on their hind legs with the fore
legs of each resting on the others head
and body, and distending their jaws,
seeming on dire mischief intent. And
after moments harmless encounter
they would drop their feet again and run
away from each other, like a couple of
playful kittens.


The only time they exhibited absolute
ILL., temper was when their daily draft of
water was given them. In their eager
often crowd and jostle each other, and
then one would, like enough, turn mad
and drive the other away Their owner
upplied them with water by means of us
Whalebone fringed into a brush at one
end This would hold drop or two.
After the first two or three times Of drink
ing from this fountain the spiders would
run for it the instant it was introduced
into the box. and, rising on their hind
ogs, resting their fore legs on the whale
bone, they would suck it dry. Spiders
are supposed capable of enduring long
tasts from food and drink; but, in this
instance, they were always ready to slakc
their thirst at least once a day


They were amply supplied with flies,
which they would capture something as
cat catches q bird They would creep
to within an inch of their victim; then,
standing motionless moment, throw
the body forward the length of the hind
legs, which would remain fixed. They
seldom missed on the first effort; but if
they did they would repeat the attempt
until successful. After eating they would
clean themselves off with great precision,
first brushing off the body with the legs
and then the legs with the Jaws and
palpi. When all was done, the minute
heap Of dirt which they had accum
ulatcd in front of them would be pushed
away with the forc-legs


On one occasion common house
spider was put in the box with them. 1t
was much smaller than they, yet they
were greatly afraid of it, keeping as far
from it as possible. In the night the
housc-spidcr spun a web covering most
OF the box. Next morning they were
found in one corner completely cowcd.
On removing the house-spidcr they re-
covered their spirits and were as lively as
ever. Earth was provided for them in
which to burrow and hide, if they chose.
But civilization had probably deranged
their natural instincts; for though they
dug holes in it, they were irregularly
and were never used for
purposes of concealmcnt