THE TARANTULA. 367 



from some traveller's account of the Trap Door 

 Spider. The mythical insect is represented as taking 

 care of its young ones. This, again, is founded on 

 fact, for I have seen a large black spider so com- 

 pletely covered with young ones that its body was 

 hidden by them. With regard to the influence of 

 music upon animals, some experiments tried lately 

 by a violinist in the London Zoological Gardens tend 

 to show that many animals, whether they enjoy 

 harmonies or not, are keenly sensitive to discord. 



Perhaps there is an allegory concealed in the 

 statement that a person stung by a Tarantula falls 

 under the dominion of the thoughts which occupied 

 him at the time. It may well be that the Angel 

 of Death hands each man over to the complete 

 control of his ruling passion ; and that we thus 

 obtain for ever that which we have loved and longed 

 for in this present state. 



Galton (" Travels in South Africa ") describes 

 the real Tarantula* as a poisonous black spider which 

 is an important ingredient in the Bushman poison. 

 It seems to be, for its size, the most venomous of 

 creatures. Death is frequently the consequence of 

 its bite. A young man who was with Galton lingered 

 between life and death for a long time after being 

 bitten by one. Though a quick runner, the Tarantula 

 has short legs. When teased with a twig, it snaps 

 its nippers together, and makes a distinct noise with 



* The Tarantula (Lycosa tarantula) derives its name from the city of 

 Taranto in Italy, where this venomous spider abounds. The disease sup- 

 posed to be occasioned by its bite was known as Tarantism, the cure of 

 which by means of music led in the middle ages to the composition of 

 songs and tunes that still survive under the name of Tarantella. T. H. 



