THE VENOM-BEAREKS THE BIRD SPIDER. 251 



They do not content themselves with insect prey as do 

 most spiders, but hunt after and kill the smaller lizards 

 and young birds. The Anolis lizard (which the colonist 

 will persist in calling by the name of chameleon), is a 

 very favourite prey of the Bird spider, and so are the 

 young of various humming-birds. 



Mr. H. W. Bates, whose travels in the Amazon region 

 are so well known, states that he saw a spider engaged 

 in the destruction of two small finches. One of them 

 was already dead, and was entangled in the broken web, 

 while the spider was still crouching upon the body of the 

 other. 



He then proceeds as follows: "On the extensive plains 

 of Santarem there are hundreds of their broad, slanting 

 burrows. These localities are almost destitute of insects, 

 but they swarm with small lizards and birds, upon which 

 the Mygale seems to feed." 



I asked Mr. Bates about these wonderful spiders, and 

 he mentioned a rather curious fact regarding them. 



The natives are very fond of pets, and tame monkeys 

 and birds are always to be seen about their huts. Children, 

 however, have a strong fancy for making a pet of the 

 Bird spider, tying a string round its body, and leading it 

 about as if it were a kitten. 



Another traveller states that the Bird spider burrows 

 in loose soil, especially that formed by decomposed lava, 

 and issues from its burrow at night in search of prey. 

 He describes it as being a most courageous creature, 

 fighting to the very last, and not being deterred from 



