74 SPIDERS [CH. 



months before they are able to fend for themselves. 

 Meanwhile they eat nothing, and look on with in- 

 difference while their mother feeds. She not only 

 carries them willingly, but exhibits solicitude when 

 deprived of them, but she shows no discrimination as 

 to her own offspring, and is quite content with those 

 of another spider. The young, when brushed off, 

 climb the legs of the nearest female, and a spider 

 may thus be laden with thrice her proper load with- 

 out any protest. They form a layer two or three 

 deep, and can then only find room by covering the 

 whole of her back. They nevertheless take care not 

 to obscure her vision by covering her eyes. 



Two mother tarantulas, each with her young on 

 her back, came into contact, and a battle a outrance 

 took place. One w r as slain, but the double brood, 

 scattered by the conflict, on its cessation climbed on 

 to the back of the victor, and remained calmly in 

 position while she proceeded to dine in leisurely 

 fashion on the vanquished ! 



In March, seven months after hatching, the young 

 were ready to start life for themselves. Their first 

 action was to climb to the highest points attainable, 

 whence they set sail in the manner already described, 

 and were borne gently away in the air. 



We can hardly leave the tarantula without saying 

 something on the vexed question of spider venom. 

 All over the world there are certain particular spiders 



