248 MR. F. PICKARD CAMBRIDGE ON THE [Apr. 1 5j 



of a very serious natui-e, and that whei'ever the vai'iety of Latro- 

 dectus occurs which is of black coloration with vivid red spots, 

 particularly at the apex (or tail-end) of the abdomen, the blood- 

 poisoning is ascribed to the "sting" of this spider. Of course 

 the spider has no stnig at the tail-end, but people who feel a 

 sudden wound are not likely to note very carefully which end of 

 the enemy is responsible for the damage. The tail-end being 

 brilliant i-ed, however, looks full of venom, and hence they have 

 jumped to the conclusion that the sting lays there. To such an 

 extent has this belief prevailed that in Guatemala, Mr. Sarg 

 relates, the natives assert that the spider actually squii-ts out its 

 venom at the victim, and if the fluid even touches the skin, an 

 angry eruption will svipervene. The fluid which is thus ejected 

 is not venom, however, but merely liquid - silk, an adhesive 

 treacly fluid which the spider squirts at a captive in order to 

 impede its struggles for liberty. In many species of the family, 

 Theridiidse, to which Lati-odectus belongs, the same phenomenon 

 can be observed. 



One may be pardoned for suspecting that the red colour has 

 given rise to the supposition that the "sting" of these spiders is 

 extremely venomous ; and whether they are the true culprits or 

 not, suspicion would naturally fall upon them at once amongst 

 the ignoi'ant and unobservant. 



I have not heard that any venomous tendencies have ever 

 been ascribed to L. geometricus, a large grey species, abundant 

 in houses, outbuildings, and offices, where, if members of the 

 genus are as bloodthii'sty as has been alleged, adults and childi'en 

 are sure to have been bitten or " stung." I never once heard 

 any of the natives accuse this species of stinging, or utter 

 warnings as to the poisonous nature of its bite, though it was 

 numerous in the houses throughout the Lower Amazons, and 

 they were not behindhand in making the most of the dangers of 

 the forest and the deadly nature of its inhabitants. But, then, 

 there are no red spots on this species. 



Of course it may also be argued that only those species with 

 red spots are poisonous , and that the red colour is one of natui'e's 

 danger signals ; considerations which bi-ing us no further towai'ds 

 a settlement of the question. 



Mr. Crotch, wiiting in 1865, referiing to the variety of the 

 common European foi'm found in Hiei-i-o, one of the Canary 

 Islands, says that his entomological enthusiasm was checked by 

 solemn wai-nings as to the dangers incuri'ed from the bite of a 

 certain large black lethifei-ous Latrodectus vicdmignattis var., 

 generally causing death unless relieved by timely and internal 

 doses of human excrement. A little later he remarks that, so 

 great was the contempt induced by familiarity, that he could not 

 be restrained from picking up the deadly monster, which, though 

 tormented in the way presumed to be most provoking to a spider, 

 persisted in lying inert in his hands, nor could it be induced to 

 bite by any means. 



