The Method of the Calicurgi 



nothing else moves. At length, after six or 

 seven weeks' lethargy, real death supervenes, 

 together with its comrade, putrefaction. 



The Tarantula of the Ringed Calicurgus, 

 as I take her from the owner at the moment 

 of transportation, presents the same peculi- 

 arities. The poison-fangs are no longer ir- 

 ritable when tickled with my straw: a fresh 

 proof, added to those of analogy, to show 

 that the Lycosa, like the Epeira, has been 

 stung in the mouth. The palpi, on the other 

 hand, are and will be for weeks highly ir- 

 ritable and mobile. I wish to emphasize 

 this point, the importance of which will be 

 recognized presently. 



I found it impossible to provoke a second 

 attack from my Harlequin Calicurgus: the 

 tedium of captivity did not favour the ex- 

 ercise of her talents. Moreover, the Epeira 

 sometimes had something to do with her 

 refusals; a certain ruse de guerre which was 

 twice employed before my eyes may well 

 have baffled the aggressor. Let me describe 

 the Incident, if only to increase our respect 

 a little for these foolish Spiders, who are 

 provided with perfected weapons and do not 

 dare to make use of them against the weaker 

 but bolder assailant. 



The Epeira occupies the wall of the wlre- 



339 



