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EFFECTS AND USES OF SPIDER POISON. Pei 
authentic facts concerning wounds inflicted from time to time by certain 
spiders. I have met many cases recorded in public prints, in magazines, 
and personal letters. It is true that in most cases the testimony can 
hardly be regarded as reliable. It amounts, usually, to this: That some 
_ one was bitten by an insect, the result being either serious or 
Indefinite fatal: that a “black spider” was seen somewhere near the in- 
Testi- nies ’ 
Seaman. dividual, or near the couch or bed or seat upon which the 
individual rested; that the said black spider (it is always a 
“black spider,” with no further description) was immediately killed, and 
therefore no specimen of the individual could be obtained. The indefinite 
character of such testimony at once excludes it as evidence. 
But cases somewhat better authenticated are also reported, several of 
which appear to be worthy of credence. In these examples the same 
“black spider” figures. But something more definite appears after a little 
cross questioning; and it is important to note that in most of such cases 
the testimony centres upon two spiders. One is a well known and widely 
distributed Lineweaver, Latrodectus mactans, Walck. (the L. verecundum 
of Hentz), and the other a large black Saltigrade spider which is proba- 
bly Phidippus morsitans (Walck.).1_ In most cases Latrodectus is the 
offending party. Concerning this species there is a very general concensus 
of popular feeling that it is extremely poisonous, and this feeling is found 
not only among the colored people and others of the United States and the 
West India Islands, but in communities in the old world where the genus 
has representatives. The testimony above quoted concerning this aranead 
certainly seems to justify the popular belief; yet the well known naturalist, 
M. Lueas, as we have seen, was bitten by Latrodectus without the least 
discomfort! (See Appendix for additional facts.) 
IV. 
Separate from the question as to the effect of spider venom upon the 
human organization, is the question, what is its effect upon the natural 
enemies and prey of the spider? One writer? says that five 
or six flies which he fed to an Orbweaver, were trussed up suc- 
cessively after having been apparently killed. After the lapse 
of fifteen or thirty minutes, these began to revive, and before the hour 
was completed, most of them had extricated themselves and got away. The 
flies which recovered were the last ones thrown into the web. 
Another observer® describes a conflict between a lineweaving spider 
and a species of Epeira, in which the latter was wounded by the former, 
the fangs being sunk into the leg, where the biter hung on like a bull dog. 
From this moment, Epeira, though much larger, made no attempt to 
Hffects on 
Insects. 
1 The Attus audax and A. sexpunctatus of Hentz. 
2 Edward Sutton, “Science Gossip,” 1868, page 40. s “Science Gossip,” 1876, page 255. 
