The Life of Spiders 



The habits of this spider were first described by Madam 

 Merian (1647—1 717)- Most writers have doubted the truth of 

 her statement; but it has been confirmed by Bates ("A Naturalist 

 on the Amazon," p. 80). Although Simon is among those that 

 doubt Madam Merian's account, he states that the Avicularia 

 that he caught in Venezuela ran on the trunks of trees with as- 

 tonishing rapidity (Simon '92, p. 170). And as the so-called bird- 

 spider is very large, the body measuring two inches in length 

 and the legs expanding seven inches, it is certainly large enough 

 and strong enough to overcome some of the smaller birds. In 

 fact several apparently well-authenticated instances of the de- 

 struction of small vertebrate animals, including birds, a mouse, 

 a fish, and a snake, by spiders that were much smaller than the 

 Avicularia are given by McCook ('89. I. 235). But of course 

 all such occurrences are very exceptional. 



The mouth of a spider is fitted only for the taking of liquid 

 food. This it presses from its victim by means of its chelicerae 

 and the endites of its pedipalps. Observations on spiders in 

 confinement indicate that some of them at least require water 

 frequently; but it is evident that others obtain moisture only by 

 sucking the liquids of their victim. 



Although spiders are extremely voracious, they are capable 

 of enduring long fasts. Blackwall states that a female Tberidion 

 quadripunctatus was known to exist for eighteen months without 

 nutriment in a vial closely corked. 



IV.— MEANS BY WHICH SPIDERS OBTAIN THEIR 



PREY 



Great differences exist among spiders as regards the ways in 

 which they obtain their prey; some, the wandering spiders, stalk 

 their prey; others lie in ambush for it; many trap it by means of 

 snares; and a few live as commensals. 



The wandering spiders. — Among the more familiar examples 

 of wandering spiders are the wolf-spiders (Lycosidse), the jumping 

 spiders (Attidae), and most of the crab-spiders, (Thomisidaj). 

 These run about in search of their prey and pounce upon it when 

 an opportunity offers. 



The ambushing spiders, — Certain of the crab-spiders, as 

 some species of the genus Misumena, hide in flowers and capture 



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