CHAPTER I 



THE BLACK-BELLIED TARANTULA 



' I *HE Spider has*a bad name: to most of 

 ■*■ us, she represents an odious, noxious ani- 

 mal, which every one hastens to crush under 

 foot. Against this summary verdict the ob- 

 server sets the beast's industry, its talent as a 

 weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nup- 

 tials and other characteristics of great inter- 

 est. Yes, the Spider is well worth studying, 

 apart from any scientific reasons; but she is 

 said to be poisonous, and that is her crime and 

 the primary cause of the repugnance where- 

 with she inspires us. Poisonous, I agree, if by 

 that we understand that the animal is armed 

 with two fangs which cause the immediate 

 death of the little victims which it catches; but 

 there is a wide difference between killing a 

 Midge and harming a man. However imme- 

 diate in its effects upon the insect entangled 

 in the fatal web, the Spider's poison is not 

 serious for us and causes less inconvenience 

 than a Gnat-bite. That, at least, is what we 



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