LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 217 



curiously fringed with a net- work, which con- 

 ceals the opening, and renders it less liable to 

 be discovered. Along the edge of this door, on 

 the inside, are a number of little holes, which 

 are used by the animal for holding it down 

 with its claws when it is attacked by an enemy. 



The spiders of our country are generally 

 small and harmless, but some of those which 

 are found in warmer climates are large enough 

 to cover a man's hand, having legs as thick as 

 a wheat straw, and their bite is considered dan- 

 gerous. The largest of these enormous spi- 

 ders, or Tarantulas, as they are called, are 

 found in South America. They are covered 

 with soft brown hair ; their feet are furnished 

 with claws ; and they have two black teeth, 

 which are so hard, glossy, and sharp that they 

 are sometimes set in gold and silver cases, and 

 used as tooth-picks. These spiders are in the 

 habit of destroying small birds, darting upon 

 them as a cat would spring upon a mouse. 



My brother, who, you know, spent two 



months in Chili, kept two of these enormous 



creatures for pets. Odd pets, you will think, 



but you know he makes pets of every thing, 



19* 



