EFFECTS AND USES OF SPIDER POISON. 281 



indigenous spiders, as Latrodectus mactans and Phidippus morsitans, which 

 at certain times may inflict an injury upon certain individuals which may 

 be serious and even fatal. But in the great majority of cases, there is no 

 more, and indeed is less, reason to apprehend danger from a stroke or 

 bite of a spider than from the sting of a bee or probe of a mosquito. 



In the case of the immense creatures (Mygalidse) known as tarantulas, 

 the matter, of course, is different. It would be strange, indeed, if such large 

 animals, with so formidable fangs and such a considerable sup- 

 ply of venom in the poison glands, should not be able to inflict 

 a serious wound. The cases which have been reported to me of 

 injury resulting from the stroke of these large spiders I consider sufficient 

 to establish this fact, and to warrant the general feeling that they are ani- 

 mals to be handled with great care. Yet even concerning them I must say 

 that I have never experienced much difficulty in capturing them, and, as a 

 rule, I believe they are more inclined to run away from man than to 

 attack him. Nevertheless, I have well authenticated instances of our south- 

 western Mygalidse springing upon individuals, and even upon horses, when 

 specially irritated. 



It is a common amusement (I have been informed) among the Texas 

 cowboys to set two Tarantulas to fighting. They surround the combatants 

 in a ring, after the fashion of frequenters of the cockpit, and freely bet 

 their money on one or the other. I have never heard of any injury 

 suffered by the managers of these aranead gladiatorial duels ; and the 

 reports would seem to indicate that the big fellows are of rather a slug- 

 gish temperament. 



V. 



It would be quite impossible, and indeed undesirable in a work of this 

 character, to enter at length upon the strange superstitions which have 

 grown up around belief in the fatal character of spider venom. 

 The prejudice is a very ancient one. Diodorus Siculus records 

 that there borders upon the country of the Acridophagi a large 

 tract of land, rich in fair pastures, but desert and uninhabited. Afore- 

 time the region was inhabited, but there fell an immoderate rain, which 

 bred a vast host of spiders and scorpions. Whoever was bitten or stung 

 by these creatures immediately fell dead. The whole nation arose and at- 

 tempted to destroy these implacable enemies of their country, which so 

 rapidly increased that they threatened to depopulate the land. In point 

 of fact, they did this, for the inhabitants were unsuccessful in their war- 

 fare, and were forced to fly to another place. 1 



The supposed effects of the Italian tarantula are well known, and 



1 Diodorus Sieulus, Book III., chapter 2. This wonderful story may also be found recorded 

 in *trabo's Geography, Book XVI., chapter 6, section 13. 



