The Black-Bellied Tarantula 



The object of these hunting methods was 

 not exactly to obtain Tarantulae; I had not 

 the least wish to rear the Spider in a bottle. 

 I was interested in a different matter. Here, 

 thought I, is an ardent huntress, living solely 

 by her trade. She does not prepare preserved 

 foodstuffs for her offspring; 1 she herself feeds 

 on the prey which she catches. She is not a 

 'paralyzer' 2 who cleverly spares her quarry so 

 as to leave it a glimmer of life and keep it 

 fresh for weeks at a time; she is a killer, 

 who makes a meal off her capture on the 

 spot. With her, there is no methodical 

 vivisection, which destroys movement with- 

 out entirely destroying life, but absolute 

 death, as sudden as possible, which protects 

 the assailant from the counter-attacks of the 

 assailed. 



Her game, moreover, is essentially bulky 

 and not always of the most peaceful char- 

 acter. This Diana, ambushed in her tower, 

 needs a prey worthy of her prowess. The 

 big Grasshopper, with the powerful jaws; the 

 irascible Wasp ; the Bee, the Bumble-bee and 

 other wearers of poisoned daggers must fall 



J Like the Dung-beetles. Translator's Note. 

 'Like the Solitary Wasps. Translator's Note. 

 59 



