76 SPIDERS [CH. 



all being marked with red spots. It is probable that 

 their deadly powers are almost entirely fabulous ; 

 and that they have been singled out as particularly 

 da gerous merely because of their conspicious ap- 

 pearance. 



The smaller species are certainly harmless as far 

 as man is concerned, and it is even disputed whether 

 their poison plays much part in the ordinary slaying 

 of insects. The very inconsistent results of experi- 

 ments may be due to some control exercised by the 

 spider over the output of poison. There is no proof 

 that its ejection is automatic, and it is quite possible 

 that the spider is economical in its use. Or again, in 

 some of the cases of innocuous biting, the supply of 

 venom may have run short. 



CHAPTER X 



JUMPING SPIDERS 



WE are not in the land of the jumping spiders or 

 Attidae, and our few and sober-coloured examples of 

 the group give but a feeble idea of the Attid fauna 

 of tropical countries where these creatures abound 

 and often rival the "ruby-tail" flies in the brilliancy 

 of their hues. 



It is one of the largest groups, numbering several 



