Tarantulas: 143 



being specially favoured by them. Among the 

 smaller species which are found in Europe are 

 the well-known trapdoor spiders, specimens of 

 which are generally living in the Zoo, but, owing 

 to their burrowing and nocturnal habits, can 

 rarely, if ever, be seen; and also one species 

 found in England, principally in the South, which 

 constructs a curious dwelling consisting of a silk- 

 lined tube or gallery, which takes at first a hori- 

 zontal and then a vertical direction, the mouth 

 being covered by a curtain formed of a continua- 

 tion of the silken lining. At present, however, 

 we are only concerned with the large American 

 species. These, as a rule, do not burrow, but live 

 in crevices in the bark of trees, and in hollows 

 among rocks and stones, where they make a sort 

 of silken case as a home. They are generally 

 nocturnal in their habits, pursuing their prey in 

 the evening and during the night, and appear to 

 be by no means particular what they attack, 

 though, no doubt, insects and other arthropods 

 form the bulk of their food. According to the 

 older authors, however, they are much given to 

 destroying and feeding on birds, whence their 

 name of bird-catching spiders, and the specific 

 name of Avicularia given by Linnaeus to one 

 species. Mme. Merian figured and described one 

 of these spiders, which she declared was in the 

 habit of surprising small birds on their nests and 

 sucking their blood with avidity. 



Mr. Bates, in his "Naturalist on the Elver 



