SPIDERS. 113 



ore long, sharply pointed, and remarkably stout at their bases — 

 so stout, indeed, that, but for a remarkable adaptation of struc- 

 ture, it would not be able to see anything in front. 



None of these spiders have a separate head, that part of the 

 body and the thorax being fused together, and forming what is 

 called by naturalists a " cephalothorax," i.e. a head-thorax. The 

 same structure may be observed in the scorpion, and also in the 

 common lobster, the shrimp, and other Crustacea. The eyes, as 

 in all spiders, are rather close together, and are placed upon the 

 upper part of this cephalothorax ; but so large are the bases of 

 the jaws, that they rise far above the level of the cephalothorax : 

 and if the ej'^es were placed in the ordinary manner would act 

 like the " blind" that is hung over the eyes of a bad-tempered 

 bull. In order, however, to enable the spider to see objects in 

 its front, a sort of little turret rises from the cephalothorax, and 

 on its summit are placed the eyes. Naturalists familiarly call 

 this projection the " watch-tower." 



This spider inhabits moist situations, and burrows into the 

 banks, the direction of the burrow being at first horizontal and 

 then sloping downwards. It is lined with a remarkably com- 

 pact silken tube, beautifully white, and about half an inch in 

 diameter. The upper part of the tube is rather larger than the 

 lower, and projects from the earth, falling forward so as to form 

 a flap, which protects the mouth of the burrow. Specimens of 

 this remarkable spicier have been obtained from several parts of 

 England. 



Nearly one hundred and fifty years ago, Sibilla Merian pub- 

 lished her famous account of the insects of Surinam, wherein 

 are several statements that were first received without scruple, 

 afterwards doubted, and finally disbelieved. The most important 

 of these controverted statements was that in which she men- 

 tioned that the gigantic spiders of Surinam catch the humming- 

 birds, kill them, and suck all the juices out of their bodies. 

 This statement appeared to be of so wild a character, that natu- 

 ralists might well be pardoned for refusing credit to it, especially 

 as Madame Merian did not offer herself as an eye-witness, but 

 merely related the story on the authority of the natives. 



There is certainly nothing in the comparative sizes of the 

 two creatures which would render such a feat impossible, for the 



I 



