42 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



sect, found in certain parts of Southwestern United States and 

 in Mexico. This scorpion-like looking spider (see figure) is called 

 the "Whip-tailed Scorpion," or the "Vinigaroon," and is greatly 

 dreaded by the people living in the countries where it occurs. 

 When in New Mexico I obtained several specimens of this insect, 

 and of one of them I made an accurate drawing, which is shown 

 here in the illustration. The bite of this insect is poisonous, but 

 I have never heard of a case where it has proved fatal in the case 

 of man. Its tail is but a feeble lash, and structurally very differ- 

 ent from the tail of a true scorpion. It is one of the largest in- 

 sects we have in this country, yet contributions to its life-history 

 are very much needed by entomologists. 



We must not believe that spiders are altogether lacking in 

 anything to recommend them, for most all of them possess a very 

 great attachment for their young, while the two sexes in son?./, 

 species often live together in great harmony, even peacefully oc- 

 cupying the same web. Many spiders will go for a long time, 

 even months, without food, but when this is plenty, their great 

 voracious propensities are quickly exhibited. Spiders are often 

 very curiously formed, while some of the so-called " jumping 

 spiders" are most brilliantly colored. In the case of nearly all 

 of them, they are both crafty and skillful in attacking and cap- 

 turing their prey, and many of them possess an intelligence quite 

 equal to that exhibited on the part of some ants. Speaking of 

 ants reminds me of those interesting cases of "protective mim- 

 icry" in spiders, for in Brazil, in certain localities, there are 

 species of ants and species of spiders so much alike that the ordi- 

 nary observer can by no means tell them apart. Some species 

 again closely resemble beetles, or even certain small mollusks, 

 and there is one species so much like a little crab that most peo- 

 ple would declare it was a crab. Certain insectivorous birds 

 often feed upon spiders, but other spiders are so protected by 

 spiny outgrowths, or are incased in dense horny armor, that the 

 feathered denizens of the air let them severely alone. Many 

 reptiles and small mammals feed upon these insects, while 

 spiders kill and devour each other, and other insects also kill 

 them. When collecting, years ago, in Louisiana, I found that 

 one of the best places to look for spiders was in the newly formed 

 nests of the so-called "mud-daubers," a kind of wasp. These in- 

 sects stung spiders, paralyzed them, and then sealed them up in 

 their nests as a food-supply for their young. Spiders are great 



