Observations upon the Tarantula. 6 7 



belonging to the back of the tarantula, to be defined by this 

 author, because it is common to almost all spiders. As to the 

 triangular spots which are observed on the hinder part of the 

 abdomen, when the specimen under examination is fresh, they 

 become so far effaced by the contraction of the dried integu- 

 ments, that it is necessary to be aware of their existence to 

 recognise any trace of them. I have at this moment before 

 me many large specimens of our Lycosa ; and, if I had not 

 formerly proved beyond doubt the shape and large size of 

 these spots, I should have found it impossible to include them 

 in the description of the species. Thus, in looking back to 

 the time and the circumstances in which Linnaeus lived, we 

 must pass over his silence with regard to the colour of the 

 tarantula just described. 



Let us now examine the body of this Lycosa in its lower 

 parts. The blackness of its mouth, of its breast, of the upper 

 part of its legs, of the spots upon the front of its legs, and 

 especially upon its abdomen, form a striking contrast with the 

 grey of its upper part. The importance of this well-marked 

 specific character has been appreciated by the eagle eye of 

 the legislator of natural history; and he has rightly made it 

 the foundation of his laconic description. The ochreous 

 colour which, in fresh specimens, is observed around the 

 abdomen, and more particularly near the anus, grows faint, 

 and ceases to become a striking mark of the species, when 

 the skin is shriveled by drying. Finally, I shall add, to 

 account for the circumstance of Linnaeus's having only de- 

 scribed the characteristics furnished by the lower part of the 

 spider, that, very probably, he supports himself by the figure 

 of Olearius, which he cites. Now, following the testimony of 

 M. Walckenaer, who is an authority of considerable weight 

 in this matter, this figure of Olearius represents only the lower 

 side of the tarantula ; and it is, according to him, very easily 

 to be recognised, although but a rough sketch. As to the 

 detestable figure of Baglivi, which, in the time of Linnaeus, 

 had its value, and which, as M. Walckenaer relates, has been 

 copied and recopied by a crowd of authors, even by Boccone 

 and Albin, referred to also by Linnaeus, the tarentula there is 

 sketched only on the upper side ; and it is impossible to ob- 

 serve any of the spots I have spoken of. 



The specific account of Fabricius, in his Entomologia Sys- 

 tematica, as w T ell as in his Species, published twelve years 

 before, is expressed in these terms, relatively to the Aranea 

 Tarantula : — " Abdominis dorso maculis trigonis nigris, pedi- 

 bus nigro maculatis.'' In the same manner, the entomologist 

 of Kiel, in explaining the most striking characteristic fur- 



