TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 61 



There are two prominent typ'.s 

 of these vagabond tarantulas, 

 (Latrodectus Mactams and Tri- 

 punctatis) and abounding 

 around the cactus jungles ; one be- 

 ing of light gray and beautifully 

 fctriped color, while the other 



If not molested directly, these 

 as well as all types of prairie 

 spiders very rarely attack a per- 

 son. They are, however, of a poi- 

 sonous nature, and very serious 

 and even fatal casualties have 

 been recorded in medical litera- 



A Vicious Prairie Tarantula Just Escaping Its Cocoon 



types are of jet black and dark 

 gray color, with three white or 

 Vermillion red spots on the body; 

 all of these types have an enor- 

 mous head and they crawl 

 at short intervals in a crouching 

 position — similar to a cat after 

 its prey. 



lure ; the writer recollects having 

 treated some years ago, one party, 

 a lady, who was very ill and 

 came near dying from convulsioiis 

 which set in shortly after being 

 bitten in the leg. The spider was 

 killed by the lady — crushed to 

 death in the folds of her skirt. • 



