THE GALEODES. 



679 



young musk-rat was then inserted under the glass, the Galeodes being on the opposite 

 side. As the creature traversed its transparent prison, it came suddenly on the young 

 musk-rat, which was quite a baby and could not open its eyes. Without hesitation it 

 sprang on the little animal, killed it, and in a very short time had eaten it. 



The manner in which the Galeodes kills its prey is really remarkable. The double 

 set of pincers are sharply hooked, like the beak of an eagle, and are capable of being 

 separately opened and shut like lobster's claws, and of being used conjointly to secure 

 prey between them ; and, moreover, the upper joint of each claw can be pushed far 

 over the lower. When the creature seizes a large animal, such as the lizard above 

 mentioned, it buries the pincers in the flesh, and deliberately shears its way onwards, 

 each pair of pincers working alternately, one pair being engaged in holding the prey 

 and the other in cutting. 



The same Galeodes was then pitted against a little bat, about three or four inches 

 across the wings. Though small, rt was full grown and lively. When placed under the 



QALEODES. Solpugm araaeoldea. 



BOOK SCORPION.-CAe///er WlderL 



glass shade it fluttered about, but was speedily arrested by the spider, which leaped 

 upon it, proceeded to drive its fangs into the neck, and clung so tightly that it could 

 not be shaken off. In vain did the bat try to beat off the enemy with its wings, or to 

 rid itself of the foe by flying in the air. Nothing could shake off the Galeodes : the 

 long legs clung tightly to the victim, the cruel fangs were buried deeper and deeper in 

 its flesh, the struggles gradually became weaker, until the point of a fang touched a 

 vital spot, and the poor bat fell lifeless from the grasp of its destroyer. 



The next antagonist of this redoubtable warrior was a scorpion, about four inches in 

 length. The Galeodes seemed nothing daunted, seized the scorpion by the root of the 

 tail, just where it could not be touched by the sting, sawed its way through the tail, 

 severed that deadly weapon from the body, and then killed and ate the scorpion, to- 

 gether with its tail. There was, however, much uncertainty as to its mode of attack 

 in this instance, for no one could exactly ascertain whether it was directed to the 

 one point of safety by chance or instinct. Another similar scorpion was then pro- 

 cured and placed in the glass bell. The Galeodes darted as usual to the attack, but 

 unfortunately seized its foe by the front. The scorpion immediately grasped the Gal- 



