ABOUT SPIDERS AND THEIR WEBS. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE VENOM-BEARERS THE BIRD SPIDER. 



TN this country there are but few venomous animals, 

 *- and perhaps only one which could even endanger 

 human life. Yet there are some which are really venom- 

 bearers, and which, although they will not go out of 

 their way to bite or sting, are yet capable of inflicting 

 painful wounds. 



Among them may be classed the spiders. We all 

 know that the venom-fangs of spiders are almost instan- 

 taneously fatal to insects, and even to their own kind, 

 and it is but natural to suppose that they can be injurious 

 to animals. Very seldom, however, do we find a spider 

 powerful enough to make its venom felt, but now and 

 then a female garden spider of abnormal size will be able 



