1G4 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Several naturalists have experimented on themselves, and the worst effects 

 following a spider's bite did not exceed those produced by the sting of a 

 mosquito. It is probable that in all the newspaper cases the person finds 

 a spider and has a sore, and the argument is of course of the post hoc 

 ergo j>mj>/rr h<>c type. 



Our common house-spiders are rather dull-colored, but among the forms 

 occurring out-of-doors there are many beautifully colored forms as well 

 as bizarre shapes. Occasionally forms are found which, instead of the 

 regular oval abdomen shown in Figure 144, have triangular hinder bodies, 

 and this may sometimes be carried to such an extent as to produce the 



Fig. 14G. — Caliper-spider (Acrosoma arcuata). 



corners of the abdomen into long horns, as shown in the figure of the 

 caliper-spider. 



Some of the spiders do not form webs, but catch their prey by agility 

 or stratagem. The jumping spiders — usually gray or black-colored forms 

 — arc familiar examples. They may be found running about on the sides 

 of buildings and on fences, and when alarmed jumping to a considerable 

 distance. When they see a small insect, they creep cautiously towards it 

 until but a small distance intervenes, and then with a sudden leap they 

 are on its hack, like a cat pouncing on a mouse. These jumping spiders 

 are ;d>!<> to spin silk, but they use the thread merely as a safety cord, 

 and each time they jump they let a thread trail out behind them to save 

 themselves from any serious fall. 



The term tarantula is commonly applied to any large spider, but it 



