42 ARACHNOIDEA, 



CASE The Rev. J. J. Wood, in his Natural History Illustrated, mentions 

 the following particulars regarding this insect, which were com- 

 municated to him by Lieut. -Gen. Sir J. Hearsey : — 



" When the Galeodes approaches any creature that it desires to 

 attack, it thrusts out its long palpi, touches the body with the 

 rounded tips of those members, and immediately raises them 

 aloft, as if fearful lest they should be injured. The whole action 

 is wonderfully like the manner in which an elephant flings its pro- 

 boscis in the air after touching anything of which it is not quite 

 sure. The tips of the palpi are rounded and soft, and when they 

 are applied to any object, a sort of phosphorescent flame seems to 

 be emitted from them. Having satisfied itself by the touch, the 

 creature rushes in at once to the attack. 



*' In order to ascertain whether the Galeodes would really attack 

 and eat vertebrated animals, an ordinarily-sized specimen- was 

 captured and placed under a bell-glass, A very young musk-rat 

 was then inserted under the glass, the Galeodes being on the 

 opposite side. As the creature traversed its transparent prison it 

 came suddenly on the young musk-rat, which was quite a baby 

 and could not open its eyes. Without hesitation it sprang on the 

 little animal, killed it, and in a short time had eaten it. 



" The manner in which the Galeodes kills its prey is really re- 

 markable. The double set of pincers are sharply hooked, like the 

 beak of an eagle, and are capable of being separately opened and 

 shut like lobsters' claws, and of being used conjointly to secure 

 prey between them ; and, moreover, the upper joint of each claw 

 can be pushed far over the lower. When the creature seizes a 

 large animal, such as the musk-rat above mentioned, it buries the 

 pincers in the flesh, and deliberately shears its way onwards, each 

 pair of pincers working alternately, one pair being engaged in 

 holding the prey and the other in cutting. 



'' The same Galeodes was then pitted against a little bat, about 

 three or four inches across the wings. Though small, it was full- 

 grown and lively. When placed under the glass shade it fluttered 



