Observations upon the Tarantula. 



63 



Art. II. Observations upon the Tarantula (Lycbsa Tarcntula). 



By M. Leon Dufour. 



(From the Annates des Sciences Naturellcs, 1835.) 



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Every one is aware that the name of tarantula has been 

 given to a large spider observed, at first, more especially in 

 the neighbourhood of Tarentum, in Italy, and which has 

 become celebrated because it was supposed that the maladies 

 arising from its reputed venomous bite might be cured by music 

 and dancing. It is not my intention to write the history of 

 this spider, and still less to retrace the fabulous stories related 

 concerning it. With respect to these, we may have recourse 

 to the works of Kircher, M'uller, Grube, Valetta, Mouffet, 

 Aldrovandus, Bellon, Jonston, and, above all, the special dis^ 

 sertation of Baglivi, published about the middle of the last 

 century. 



In resolving, on the present occasion, to speak of the 

 tarantula, I have no other end than to offer to science some 

 positive facts arising from direct personal observation. It is, 

 without doubt, a tardy homage ; for it is more than 20 years 

 ago that, during my stay in Spain, I commenced collecting 

 materials for this task ; but these facts, notwithstanding their 

 ancient date, have appeared to me worthy of being brought 

 to light; and, in setting myself to prepare them for publica- 



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