Observations upon the Tarantula. 69 



This author has described, in the second edition of the 

 dictionary before referred to, under the new name of Lycosa 

 melanogaster, a species to which he refers both the Araignee 

 Tarentule of Olivier, and the Lycose narbonaise of M.Walcke- 

 naer, and, I should almost say, my tarentula also; since, as 

 he has been so good as to inform me, he devotes an article of 

 some length to the description of some specimens of it which 

 I had transmitted to him during my stay in Spain. The cor- 

 respondence admitted by Latreille between these species is 

 correct; but I think that we must add to them those of Lin- 

 naeus and Fabricius, and, finally, substitute the name of Taren- 

 tula for the epithet melanogaster. For the same reason, the 

 Lycosa described by Latreille under the name of Tarentula, 

 and which has a black stripe in the centre of the abdomen, 

 ought to receive another name, and, perhaps, will not differ 

 from that which I have called, in the preceding note, fascii- 

 ventris. 



I think I have made all which relates to the describing, 

 the determining the species, and the recognising, of the taran- 

 tula, sufficiently clear. It now remains for me to bring for- 

 ward facts relative to its habits and mode of life, arising from 

 my own observations ; facts which may be depended upon as 

 positive and authentic, because I have been careful to pre- 

 serve them in writing at the time. These are the materials 

 which may serve to complete the history of this celebrated 

 spider. 



The Lycosa inhabits, from preference, exposed places ; 

 dry, barren, uncultivated, and open to the sun. It hides 

 itself, generally, at least when it is full grown, in underground 

 passages, complete burrows, which it digs for itself. These 

 burrows, though noticed by many authors, have been im- 

 perfectly apprehended and studied. Cylindrical, and often 

 1 in. in diameter, they are sunk more than 1 ft. in the soil. 

 But they are not simply perpendicular, as has been advanced. 

 The inhabitant of the trench proves that he is, at the same 

 time, a skilful hunter and an able engineer. It was neces- 

 sary, not only that he should construct a deep intrenchment, 

 which might hide him from the pursuit of his enemies; he 

 must also establish there a place of observation, from which 

 he could spy out his prey, and dart, like an arrow, upon it. 

 The tarantula has foreseen all. The subterranean passage 

 has, in effect, at first, a vertical direction; but, at 4 in. or 



seen specimens which were ten lines in length. The black stripe which 

 crosses the centre of the abdomen presents, on each side, at its lower end, 

 a little tooth-shaped projection. 



