I 



The Black-Bellied Tarantula 19 



tunately, this is not so in my case : you might 

 as well try to dig a knife into a block of tufa. 



Other stratagems become necessary. Here 

 are two which were successful : I recommend 

 them to future Tarantula-hunters. I insert 

 into the burrow, as far down as I can, a stalk 

 with a fleshy spikelet, which the Spider can bite 

 into. I move and turn and twist my bait. 

 The Tarantula, when touched by the intruding 

 body, contemplates self-defence and bites the 

 spikelet. A slight resistance informs my fingers 

 that the animal has fallen into the trap and 

 seized the tip of the stalk in its fangs. I draw 

 it to me, slowly, carefully ; the Spider hauls 

 from below, planting her legs against the wall. 

 It comes, it rises. I hide as best I may, when 

 the Spider enters the perpendicular tunnel : 

 if she saw me, she would let go the bait and slip 

 down again. I thus bring her, by degrees, to 

 the orifice. This is the difficult moment. If I 

 continue the gentle movement, the Spider, 

 feeling herself dragged out of her home, would 

 at once run back indoors. It is impossible to 

 get the suspicious animal out by this means. 

 Therefore, when it appears at the level of the 



