348 



In working -sviththe large Nephilas it would be possible, if I am not mistaken, 

 by taking some pains, to obtain, either in the open air or under covered sheds, a sort 

 of spider magnauerie, in which the floss of the cocoons and the thread drawn from the 

 living insect by the processes I have indicated or better ones, could be utilized. — [P. 

 Cambou6, S. J., Madagascar. 



Further concerning the new Chicken Plague in Texas. 



In No. 4, Insect Life, I find your report to the Department on Argas amerlcanua'^ 

 a new chicken plague as j'ou call it. Doubtless it will be of interest to you to hear 

 more about it. I am well acquainted with this pest since the fall of 1888, when I 

 for the first time found them infesting a chicken house on a neighbor's ranch, kill- 

 ing in a short time about 25 to 30 chickens. They are strictly nightly in their 

 habits. I n ever saw one about in daytime, and alike numerous in summer as in 

 winter, but they seem to appear in greater numbers in dry, hot years as 1892 has 

 been. They spread very rapidly. Last year I built a new chicken house, but in 

 eight days it was literally lull. You state in your report "Pullets it kills by creep- 

 ing in masses under their wings." This would suggest that the grown Argas does 

 the work. Allow me to correct this. It is the young, apparently newly-hatched, 

 that do this. Perhaps the eggs are deposited under the wings and along the neck of 

 chickens. They are minute little fellows hardly as big as half a pin's head and 

 fasten themselves like ticks, but in such numbers that the skin is perfectly covered. 

 Chickens droop, refuse to eat and drink, in a few days they are unable to move and 

 finally die. What becomes of the Argas after they kill their host I do not know, 

 but will try to find out. The damage done is indeed great, not only killing old and 

 young chickens but weakening them so that their laying qualities are greatly les- 

 sened. Kerosene oil emulsions seem not to have a great eft'ect upon Argas. Lime 

 and sublimate when the houses are whitewashed seem to do much better. Oil of 

 sassafras kills them quickly, but is rather dangerous if put on little chicks. — [Fer- 

 dinand Hoehr to All)ert Turpie, Kinney County, Tex., and transmitted by the latter 

 to this Department. 



Painful Spider Bites. 



Referring to the letter from Dr. William P. T. Cook (Insect Life, vol. ii, p. 255) in 

 which he infers that spiders do not bite, I wish to add a mite of testimony. During 

 the past year (1892) 1 have been twice bitten by spiders; in both cases experienced 

 the bite and saw the spider. 



Last summer while on a fishing excursion at Reservoir Lake, Saratoga County, N. 

 y., I experienced a sharp, stinging bite on my neck and on brushing oft" the biter 

 discovered it to be a small spider of a silver gray color. A companion at once 

 crushed his spidership, for which on afterthought I was sorry, as I should like to 

 have sent the spider for examination. At the spot bitten a small red i^uncture was 

 visible which was soon surrounded by a swelling somewhat similar to a bee sting. 

 Sharp twinges of pain followed with stiffening of the cords of the neck and I was 

 not a little alarmed, especially as I had not long before read some of the correspond- 

 ence in Insect Life relating to the subject. However, the pain soon left, swelling 

 went down, and fishing was resumed. The only effects afterward noticed was a 

 slight 8tiff"ening of the neck lasting for a few hours and once only on the following 

 day a very sharp contraction or spasm of jiain in the region affected. 



The other bite spoken of was somewhat similar to a slight bee sting but with no 

 effect of any consequence. Should anything further j»ertaining to the subject be 

 noticed I will communicate if desirable. — [P. M. Van Epps, Schenectady County, N. 

 Y., March 20, 1893. 



