494 THE BIRD-CATCHING SPIDER. 



willing to give up their darling amusement in per- 

 forming the frantic character of Bacchantes, devised 

 other pretences j and he supposes that accident led 

 them to the discovery of the Tarantula, on the 

 strength of whose poison the Puglian dames still 

 enjoy their old dance, though time has effaced the 

 memory of its ancient name and institution. 



If these dancers are at any time really and invo- 

 luntarily affected, Mr. Swinburne supposes it must 

 be from some attack upon the nerves, a kind of 

 St. Vitus's dance*. 



THE BIRD-CATCHING SPIDERf. 



If the spiders that are found in Europe are looked 

 upon with aversion and alarm by those who are in 

 the habits of constantly seeing them, surely this 

 American species, whose gigantic size and great 

 muscular power render it a terror even to the fea- 

 thered tribes, cannot be beholden without the most 

 violent sensations of horror. 



This enormous creature will extend with its feet 

 a space of near ten inches. From the head to the 

 extremity of the abdomen it often measures above 

 three inches. The legs are as thick as a goose's 

 quill, and closely covered with hair. The body is 

 brown, and the fangs are as strong and sharp as in 

 some of the rapacious species of birds. It is not 

 uncommon in many parts of America, but is princi- 

 pally found in the southern division of that conti- 

 nent, and particularly in Guiana. 



* Swinburne's Travels, i. 391—395. f Aranea avicularia. Linn. 



