106 



PARA. 



Chap. III. 



the hawk-like creatures congregate to chase them over 

 the swamps and about the tree-tops. 



Bees and wasps are not especially numerous near 

 Para, and I will reserve an account of their habits for 

 a future chapter. Many species of Mygale, those mon- 

 strous hairy spiders, half a foot in expanse, which attract 

 the attention so much in museums, are found in sandy 

 places at Nazareth. The different kinds have the most 

 diversified habits. Some construct, amongst the tiles 

 or thatch of houses, dens of closely-woven web, which, 

 in texture, very much resembles fine muslin ; these are 

 often seen crawling over the walls of apartments. Others 

 build similar nests in trees, and are known to attack 

 birds. One very robust fellow, the Mygale Blondii, 

 burrows into the earth, forming a broad, slanting 

 gallery, about two feet long, the 

 sides of which he lines beautifully 

 with silk. He is nocturnal in his 

 habits. Just before sunset he 

 may be seen keeping watch within 

 the mouth of his tunnel, disap- 

 pearing suddenly when he hears 

 a heavy foot-tread near his hid- 

 ing-place. The number of spiders 

 ornamented with showy colours 

 was somewhat remarkable. Some 

 double themselves up at the base 

 of leaf-stalks, so as to resemble 

 flower-buds, and thus deceive the 

 insects on which they prey. The most extraordinary- 

 looking spider was a species of Acrosoma, which had two 



Acrosoma arcuatiim. 



