TARANTULA ^6 1 



therefore, that the venom is under the control of the animal's 

 will, and is economised when the simple womid is sufiicient for 

 the purpose — a supposition whicli may partially explain the 

 very divergent opinions held with regard to the effect of the 

 spider's bite. The reputation of the " Tarantula " Spider is well 

 known, luit what particular species, if any, was intended by the 

 name is quite uncertain. The name is derived from the town 

 Tarentum, and was certainly applied to a Lycosid spider. Pro- 

 bably the common south European species, Lycosa narhonensis, 

 has as good a claim to the honour as any. The confusion has 

 been increased by extending the name to spiders of quite a 

 different family. Eunjjielma hcntzii, one of the Aviculariidae, is 

 commonly known as the Tarantula in America. 



The superstition of tlie tarantula dance is well known. The 

 bite of the spider was supposed to induce a species of madness 

 which found its expression — and its cure — in frantic and extrava- 

 gant contortions of the body. If the dance was not sufficiently 

 frenzied, death ensued. In the case of survivors, the symptoms 

 were said to recur on the anniversary of the bite. Particular 

 descriptions of music were supposed to incite the patient to the 

 excessive exertion necessary for his relief ; hence the " Tarantella." 



In the Middle Ages epidemics of " tarantism " were of frequent 

 occurrence, and spread with alarming rapidity. They were 

 seizures of an hysterical character, analogous to the ancient 

 Bacchic dances, and quite unconnected with the venom of the 

 spider from which they took their name. The condition of 

 exaltation and 'frenzy was contagious, and would run through 

 whole districts, with its subsequent relapse to a state of utter 

 prostration and exhaustion. The evil reputation of the Tarantula 

 appears to have exceedingly little basis in fact. 



Baglivi relates how the country people capture the Tarantula 

 l)y imitating the buzzing of an insect at the mouth of its hole. 

 " Quo cmdito, ferox exit Tarentula ut muscas, quorum murmur 

 esse putat, captet ; captatur tamen a rustico insidiatore." 



Fabre ^ acted the part of the " insidious rustic " with slight 

 success ; but by other stratagems he enticed the creatures from 

 their holes, and made some interesting observations upon the 

 effects of their bite. He found that bees and wasps were instan- 

 taneously killed by them. This immediately fatal effect he 



' Fabre, Nouveaux souvenirs entomoloyiqucs, ch. xi. 



