xi] THERAPHOSID SPIDERS 99 



The larger Avicnlariidae have acquired a reputa- 

 tion for feeding on birds, and this has given rise both 

 to their scientific and their popular name bird-eating 

 spiders. Several travellers have stated that they 

 have observed them with birds in their grasp, and 

 there is no doubt of their ability to kill any small 

 bird or mammal, though it is probable that they 

 seldom have the opportunity, for they spin no snare 

 in which birds may be caught. Even without the aid 

 of their poison, their jaws are so large and powerful 

 that they may easily attain the vital organs of small 

 animals. Probably their staple food consists of the 

 larger insects. 



They live in holes in the ground or in trees, or 

 sometimes in the fork of a tree-branch. In such 

 hiding places they spend the hours of day-light, 

 emerging at night in search of food. Their large size 

 and uncanny appearance have attracted the attention 

 of the collector, and a great many species are known, 

 but the fact that they chiefly inhabit tropical 

 countries has militated against any very extended 

 study of their habits, and the few items of informa- 

 tion we possess are best related with regard to the 

 particular spider observed, and not taken as neces- 

 sarily characteristic of the whole tribe. There is 

 little doubt that they live for several years. McCook 

 kept a specimen of Dugesiella hentzi in captivity 

 for five and a half years, and he considered that 



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