148 Tarantulas. 



lished earlier than that of Dr. Brookes, evidently 

 doubted the truth of the stories which were current 

 about the effect of the tarantula's bite, as he passed 

 over the subject with the remark, " As to the effect 

 of the poison they convey into the wound they make, 

 there seems yet room for much explanation about 

 it." The Deserta tarantulas are, as we have said, 

 much smaller and less hairy in appearance than the 

 Brazilian ; they are also differently coloured, being 

 black in ground colour, spotted and striped with a 

 light grey and white. Those now in Regent's Park 

 have no means provided for them to hide them- 

 selves, except a small plant in the middle of each 

 case, and can therefore nearly always be seen, each 

 of them sitting, generally in one of the corners of 

 the glass cases in which they are confined, appa- 

 rently screwed up into the smallest possible com- 

 pass as, indeed, is the habit of most spiders when 

 at rest. They are, however, very fond of the sun, 

 and when it shines they spread themselves out to 

 enjoy the warmth, and at such times are full of life 

 and vigour, and constantly on the look-out for prey, 

 leaping with great agility on any unfortunate insect 

 that may come near them. 



Considering the fierce and brigand nature of all 

 tarantulas, it is, perhaps, needless to say that they 

 are each confined in a separate case, the five cases 

 being placed on the stand at the east end of the 

 Insect House. It is by no means an uncommon 

 event for a tarantula, or even tarantulas., to be 

 exhibited at the Zoo ; but the present specimens 



