296 TARANTULA SPIDER. 



eggs, which, after a certain time, change first into chry- 

 salids, and then into perfect Fleas. 



22. SPIDER TRIBE. 



These are all predatory and voracious animals, feeding 

 on other insects, and not even sparing their own kind. 

 The greater part of the species form webs, for the pur- 

 pose of ensnaring their prey. 



House Spider. Every person is well acquainted with 

 this insect and its webs. These are a kind of net- work, 

 but formed in a manner very different from anything 

 constructed by human ingenuity. The cross-threads, in- 

 stead of being interwoven, are merely glued at the points 

 where they touch. As the Spider's web lasts for a long 

 period of time, it is necessary the insect should, every 

 now and then, clear it from dust, which otherwise would 

 accumulate upon it, and incommode her operations. This 

 is done by giving it, every now and then, a strong shake 

 with her paw. The moment an unfortunate fly is en- 

 tangled in this web, the tyrant, which was before con- 

 cealed from view, darts from its hiding-place, seizes it in 

 its merciless jaws, drags it into its hold, and there 

 sucks its blood. Spiders change their skins at certain 

 seasons of the year. 



Tarantula Spider. In various parts of Italy there is a 

 fabulous notion, that persons bitten by these insects 

 which are more than an inch in length, of a cinereous 

 colour, with blackish rings on the under part of the 

 body, are seized with a kind of madness, which is to be 

 cured only by music. Late travellers in that country 

 have, however, discovered that this is an imposition, and 



