SPIDERS, MITES, AND SCORPIONS. 157 



.scorpions know their power, and are consequently fearless. When stirred 

 up, they wave their tails about in the most threatening manner, seeking an 

 opportunity to thrust the sting into the offender. 



Somewhat similar in appearance to the true scorpions are the whip- 

 scorpions, of which we have but few. Their common name is derived 

 from the long, jointed whip which terminates the body, replacing the 

 sting -of their relatives. What purpose this organ fulfils is no1 easy 

 to see. Its presence, however, does not deprive the animals of their 

 poisonous powers, for in the big claws are poison-glands. Little is known 

 of their habits. 



The t daddy-long-legs,' on the other hand, are perfectly harmless form-. 

 familiar to all, as they awkwardly walk over the grass, their long legs 

 seeming to be constantly in the way and hardly strong enough to support 

 the small body. They seem, however, to be of considerable use as organs 

 of touch ; and if we hold one of these animals 

 captive for a moment, we will see it lift up 

 and seemingly feel of objects with one or 

 more of its feet. The farmers' boys are 

 familiar with this peculiarity, and they regard 

 the animal's movements as almost oracular. 

 The l daddy-long-legs ' is caught, and then the 

 question is asked, i Where are my father's 

 cows ? ' Up comes one of the long legs, and 

 straightway the boy rushes off in the direc- FlG ' m ~S d ( ^'i; J harvest- 

 tion indicated, feeling confident that he will 



find the missing herd. The daddy-long-legs (or harvestmen, as they are 

 often called) are carnivorous, feeding upon small insects. 



Concerning the true spiders much more of interest is known, both 'from 

 the assiduity with which they have been studied and from the really inter- 

 esting habits which many of them exhibit. In the northern states we have 

 no large forms, but farther south some monstrous loathsome species 

 occur, which might almost seem to be the brothers of ' Dr. Grimshaw a ' 

 pet. These large species (one of which is figured on our plate, p. 159) 

 have nothing attractive about them ; on the contrary, their dull-colored 

 hairy bodies and clumsy legs give them a repulsive appearance which is 

 fully borne out by their habits. It has been said, contradicted, and reaf- 

 firmed that the large species of Surinam, which we figure, captures small 

 birds, kills them with its venom, and then sucks their blood. ^ hether 

 this is true or not, the animal looks ugly enough to do it, or to commit 

 any other act. 



In regard to the bird-catching habits of the bird-spider, we can do no 



