280 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



at once seized by the fore feet as it struggles in the web, swung around 

 towards the spinnerets, and wrapped up. It is only in the case of partic- 

 ularly large and formidable insects that the stroke is adminis- 

 Prey Not tered, and that after they have been partially disarmed by en- 



c,, ; swathment. In fact, I believe that Orbweavers, at least, are quite 

 Struck, . ' . ' , ' . ^ 



chary about comnig nito such close quarters with large insects as 

 would permit the use of fangs. It is true, as I have fully illustrated, that 

 spiders do hang an enswathed victim to a portion of their snares that they 

 may feed upon it at their leisure ; but even when immediately fed upon, 

 as is ordinarily the case, the same enswathment is practiced. 



If we turn to the Wandering group of spiders, who stalk their prey, it 

 is doubtless true that when one springs upon its victim it often strikes it 

 with its fangs. But this is certainly not the universal practice, for I have 

 often observed insects simply seized by the feet and at once carried around 

 to the mouth and eaten without any more ceremony. This is commonly 

 the case with the large Mygalidse from our Southwestern States kept by 

 me in artificial conditions. Grasshoppers fed to them, for example, are 

 generally struck down or seized with the fore feet without any application 

 of the fangs. Perhaps the superior vigor of the spider in this case renders 

 such action entirely unnecessary. 



On the whole view of the subject I must say that I am in doubt as to 

 what special use the poison gland and apparatus can be to the spider in 

 ordinary cases, and am inclined to think that it is a sort of re- 

 ,^ ^ serve weapon for special exigencies, and is sparingly used. It 



appears to be unnecessary for ordinary purposes of capturing 

 food, especially with the Sedentary groups, but is apparently of greater im- 

 portance to the Wandering groups, who stalk their prey afield. Yet, even 

 in such cases, it would seem that the puncture of the fangs without any 

 poisonous injection is sufficient to fulfill every requirement for sustaining 

 and defending life. 



Nevertheless, the fact remains that the spider is furnished with a poi- 

 son gland and apparatus sonidewhat resembling that of venomous serpents, 

 and I have too much confidence in the wise economy of force 

 Influence ^^^^i material in nature, to suppose that so perfect an organ 

 , p could be without some useful function in the life economy of 



dition. ^^^ aranead. Reasoning from analogy of other venomous ani- 

 mals, serpents for example, it is probably true that nmch of the 

 effect of spider venom depends upon the condition of the spider itself as 

 to degree of irritation, etc., at the time when the stroke is given. On the 

 other hand, the physical condition of the person bitten also largely deter- 

 mines the effect of the bite. That which is harmless to one individual 

 we know is often injurious or fatal to another ; and that which at one 

 period of Kfe may produce serious results, at another time is compara- 

 tively harmless. It is therefore probably true that there are a few of our 



