The Black-Bellied Tarantula 39 



to the Mole. Up to what point are we to 

 generaHze? I do not know, because my en- 

 quiries extended no further. Nevertheless, 

 judging from the little that I saw, it appears 

 to me that the bite of this Spider is not an 

 accident which man can afford to treat lightly. 

 This is all that I have to say to the doctors. 



To the philosophical entomologists I have 

 something else to say : I have to call their 

 attention to the consummate knowledge of the 

 insect-killers, which vies with that of the 

 paralyzers. I speak of insect-killers in the 

 plural, for the Tarantula must share her deadly 

 art with a host of other Spiders, especially 

 with those who hunt without nets. These 

 insect-killers, who live on their prey, strike the 

 game dead instantaneously by stinging the 

 nerve-centres of the neck ; the paralyzers, on 

 the other hand, who wish to keep the food fresh 

 for their larvae, destroy the power of movement 

 by stinging the game in the other nerve-centres. 

 Both of them attack the nervous chain, but 

 they select the point according to the object 

 to be attained. If death be desired, sudden 

 death, free from danger to the huntress, the 



