COLLECTION OF ARTICULATED ANIMALS. ^6t 



struct the bag (n 03 5, 85 and 87,) destined to con- 

 tain their young, and their extreme care in de- 

 fending and preserving it, should induce us to 

 examine them with interest, notwithstanding 

 the disgust which they generally excite. Some 

 large species belonging to warm climates, are 

 truly dangerous; such are the species (n 09 1 and 2) 

 named after M.Leblond ; thefasciata, Seba. (n7), 

 and the bird-catcher (n 3). This last seizes on 

 humming birds and devours them. A very re- 

 markable species on account of its industry is 

 the m. ccementaria, "Walk. (n 78) ; it digs a gal- 

 lery many feet in length under ground, which 

 it inhabits with its young ; the entrance is shut 

 by a circular door, fixed by a hing^, which 

 falls of itself when opened. This species inha- 

 bits the neighbourhood of Montpellier ; four 

 specimens of these nests are placed by its side. 

 The species so much celebrated in Italy by the 

 name of tarantula (n 68) belongs to the genus 

 lycosa, Latr. It has been supposed that the 

 bad effects caused by its bite were only to be 

 dispelled by the help of music and dancing: 

 but in fact the bite is less dangerous than has 

 been imagined, and it can easily be cured. This 

 species of lycosa is different from the taran- 

 tula of Fabricius, which constitutes another fa- 

 mily; to this belongs the genus phryne of the 



