PROCURING FOOD AND FEEDING. 



261 



upon the outspread sheet, or into the sheeted pouch which forms the 

 trap, and then dragging them to their tubular dens suck the juices. 

 The Wandering spiders leap upon their prey, falling on them with the 

 fangs, palps, and united claws of the front pairs of legs. Ordinarily, the 

 first spring proves successful in capturing the victim, and, if it be not so, 

 I believe that it is not often repeated. 



I have frequently observed Hentz's tarantula feeding in confinement. 

 When the spider was disposed to eat, an insect was seized with the fore 

 legs, palps, and mandibles, which rapidly conveyed it to the mouth. In 

 this position it was held by the palps, which, as the spider had occasion, 

 also turned the carcass, aided l)y the mandibles, the latter organs mean- 



FiG. 238. Hentz's tarantula eating a locust. 



while crushing the victim. (See Fig. 238.) During this act Tarantula was 

 anchored to the rug on wliicli it was wont to sit by several threads at- 

 tached to the spinnerets. On one occasion, while in the act of eating a 

 locust, a second locust approached near enough to be .seized. It was struck 

 upon the ground, where it was held down until the tarantula, moving slowly 

 around, overspun and swathed it, evidently reserving it for future use. 



I may say here that my experience in keeping other large spiders is 

 that there is <piite as much danger from overfeeding as underfeeding. I 



have found the best success by giving a generous supply of liv- 

 rp , , iiig food during tlic summer and early autumn, and withholding 



food almost entirely during the remainder of the year. I was 

 particular, however, to keep a vessel continually sui)plied with fresh water 

 within the box. Spiders rei^uire water (piite as much as other animals, 

 and failure to keep them supplied will be fatal to health and life. 



