VENOMOUS SPIDERS 165 



observation, is no fable, but a veritable fact. There is a 

 curious habit which I have observed in several species of Mala- 

 gasy spiders which is apparently also used for protection. If 

 they are disturbed, or if their web is shaken, they immediately 

 throw themselves into a state of violent vibration, so that the 

 eye cannot follow them ; and this rapid motion is continued for 

 two or three minutes, until the supposed danger has passed 

 away. It would seem as if this must be done to confuse a 

 possible enemy intending to attack them. 



Besides the red-spot spider, there is another kind called by the 

 natives Fbka ; this is rather common in gardens and is extremely 

 like a small crab, with a lozenge-shaped abdomen ; it is covered 

 with tubercles, and its legs are roughened, like those of a crus- 

 tacean. Its bite is followed by swelling, which spreads from 

 the wounded part through the whole body. This dangerous 

 spider's bite is said to be often fatal. There is another spider, 

 apparently a species of Mygale, called by the people Tarabiby, 

 found fifty to sixty miles west of the capital, whose bite is also 

 said to be dangerous, if not actually fatal. It appears to be a 

 trap-door species. Besides this one, another species of trap- 

 door spider is also said to be found in Imerina, but I have not 

 seen a specimen myself; it is said to leave the door of its 

 dwelling open. 



The illustration given herewith will give a better idea than 

 any mere description can of the strange shapes of many 

 Madagascar spiders. The largest figure shows an Epeira of 

 extraordinary shape ; it will be seen that the abdomen is like 

 a set of three cones, fixed into one another and terminated by a 

 sharpish point. A still more bizarre figure is presented by 

 Epeira mitralis, as it crouches, fixed close to a branch or twig ; 

 whether viewed from the back or front or side, it is equally 

 " uncanny " in its appearance. Then, again, the two Gastera- 

 canthce, with their bodies much broader than they are long, are 

 very unlike our ordinary idea of a spider, while the formidable 

 spikes with which they are armed would appear a very efficient 

 protection from any insect-eating bird or beast. The rather 

 diabolical-looking Thomisus foka, with its crab-like pincers, is 

 much dreaded by the Malagasy, as giving a fatal bite, if speedy 

 remedies are not applied. Happily, it is not very common. 



There is a considerable variety in the webs of Malagasy 



