492 THE TARANTULA. 



was stirring ; and I am sure I did not assist it with 

 my breath. So that these little crawlers seem to 

 have, while mounting, some locomotive power with- 

 out the use of wings, and to move in the air faster 

 than the air itself." 



THE TARANTULA*. 



The Tarantula is somewhat more than an inch in 

 length, and has its breast and belly of an ash-colour : 

 its legs are likewise ash-coloured, with blackish rings 

 on the under part. Its fangs are red within. It is a 

 native of Italy, Cyprus, Barbary, and the East In- 

 dies. This animal lives in fields, and its dwelling 

 is about four inches deep, half an inch wide, and 

 closed at the mouth with a net. At the bottom 

 this is curved ; and there the insect sits in wet wea- 

 ther, and from thence cuts its way out, if water 

 gain upon it. These spiders do not live quite a 

 year. They lay about 730 eggs, which are hatched 

 in the spring. The parents never survive the 

 winter. 



Inflammation, difficulty of breathing, and sick- 

 ness, are said to be the invariable consequents to the 

 bite of this creature. Dr. Mead, and other medical 

 men, have countenanced the ridiculous story ot 

 these effects being counteracted by the power of 

 music. It is, however, now well known that this 

 singular mode of cure was nothing more than a 

 trick frequently practised on credulous travellers, 



* Aranca Tarantula. Linn. 



