The Black-Bellied Tarantula 



of the Tarantula, if I succeed in inducing the 

 Spider to accept her. I place a certain num- 

 ber, one by one, in bottles small in capacity, 

 but having a wide neck capable of surround- 

 ing the entrance to the burrow. 



As the prey which I am about to offer is 

 capable of overawing the huntress, I select 

 from among the Tarantulae the lustiest, the 

 boldest, those most stimulated by hunger. 

 The spikeleted stalk is pushed into the bur- 

 row. When the Spider hastens up at once, 

 when she is of a good size, when she climbs 

 boldly to the aperture of her dwelling, she 

 is admitted to the tourney; otherwise, she is 

 refused. The bottle, baited with a Carpen- 

 ter-bee, is placed upside down over the 

 door of one of the elect. The Bee buzzes 

 gravely in her glass bell; the huntress mounts 

 from the recesses of the cave; she is on the 

 threshold, but inside; she looks; she waits. 

 I also wait. The quarters, the half-hours 

 pass : nothing. The Spider goes down again : 

 she has probably judged the attempt too dan- 

 gerous. I move to a second, a third, a fourth 

 burrow: still nothing; the huntress refuses to 

 leave her lair. 



Fortune at last smiles upon my patience, 

 65 



