THE RINGED CALICUGRUS 167 



At the end of September, almost a month after the 

 operation, the Epeira is in the same condition, neither 

 dead nor alive : the feelers still quiver at the touch of 

 the straw ; and nothing else stirs. Finally, after six or 

 seven weeks of lethargy, real death supervenes, together 

 with its companion, corruption. 



The Tarantula of the Ringed Calicurgus, whom I steal 

 from her owner while she is dragging her along, offers the 

 same peculiarities for my inspection. The poison-fangs 

 absolutely refuse to be irritated by the tickling of the 

 straw, a fresh proof added to that of analogy to show 

 that the Lycosa, like the Epeira, has been stung in the 

 mouth. The feelers, on the other hand, are and for weeks 

 remain exceedingly irritable and mobile. I insist upon 

 this point, the interest of which will soon become apparent. 



It was not possible for me to obtain a second attack 

 from my Calicurgus Scurra : the tedium of captivity 

 injured the exercise of her talents. Besides, the Epeira 

 had occasionally something to say to this refusal : a 

 certain stratagem of war twice employed before my eyes 

 could easily rout the aggressor. Let me describe the 

 thing, if only to raise a little in our esteem those silly 

 Arachnids, who, provided with weapons of perfection, dare 

 not use them against their feebler, but pluckier assailant. 



The Epeira occupies the wall of the woven-wire en- 

 closure, with her eight legs sprawling over the trellis- 

 work ; the Calicurgus moves about under the top of the 

 dome. Panic-stricken at the sight of the enemy, the 

 spider drops to the ground, with her belly in the air and 

 her legs bunched up. The other goes to her, takes hold 

 of her, examines her and places herself in a position to 

 sting her in the mouth. But she does not unsheathe her 

 dart. I see her leaning attentively over the poison-fangs, 

 as though to enquire into the nature of the terrible 



