t GALEODES. 41 



CASE deserts, and their bite is said to be venomous, and even dansrerous, 

 but proof is wanted of this. There seems to be no doubt, how- 

 ever, that they are a great torment to the camels in the countries 

 where they abound, and from the formidable nature of their man- 

 dibles, and the ready ferocity with which they present them for 

 attack when interfered with, they have obviously both the will and 

 the power to inflict a severe bite, whether any poison is instilled 

 into it or not. They feed upon other insects, particularly a kind 

 of Acridium (grasshopper), of which they are fond. They dig great 



Galeodes araneoides (natural size). 



galleries or pits in the sandy soil, removing the debris to a distance 

 by means of their mandibles, and using the stiff hairs which ac- 

 company them as a sort of broom to sweep them away. The 

 present species has been found in the South of Russia and Greece, 

 but its chief range is further south, extending from Egypt and one 

 or more of the oases in the desert, to India, where it is common and 

 troublesome. It there reaches a large size, its body being some- 

 times two inches long without its legs, or with them ten inches. 



It is seldom seen except by night, and runs with gi-eat rapidity, 

 more like a mouse than a spider, but covering much more space. 



