EFFECTS AND USES OF SPIDER POISON. 281 
indigenous spiders, as Latrodectus mactans and Phidippus morsitans, which 
at certain times may inflict an injury upon certain individuals which may 
be serious and even fatal. But in the great majority of cases, there is no 
more, and indeed is less, reason to apprehend danger from a stroke or 
bite of a spider than from the sting of a bee or probe of a mosquito. 
In the case of the immense creatures (Mygalidee) known as tarantulas, 
the matter, of course, is different. It would be strange, indeed, if such large 
animals, with so formidable fangs and such a considerable sup- 
ply of venom in the poison glands, should not be able to inflict 
a serious wound. The cases which have been reported to me of 
injury resulting from the stroke of these large spiders I consider sufficient 
to establish this fact, and to warrant the general feeling that they are ani- 
mals to be handled with great care. Yet even concerning them I must say 
that I have never experienced much difficulty in capturing them, and, as a 
rule, I believe they are more inclined to run away from man than to 
attack him. Nevertheless, I haye well authenticated instances of our south- 
western Mygalidee springing upon individuals, and even upon horses, when 
specially irritated. 
It is a common amusement (I have been informed) among the Texas 
cowboys to set two Tarantulas to fighting. They surround the combatants 
in a ring, after the fashion of frequenters of the cockpit, and freely bet 
their money on one or the other. I have never heard of any injury 
suffered by the managers of these aranead gladiatorial duels; and the 
reports would seem to indicate that the big fellows are of rather a slug- 
gish temperament. 
The Ta- 
rantula, 
V. 
It would be quite impossible, and indeed undesirable in a work of this 
character, to enter at length upon the strange superstitions which have 
grown up around belief in the fatal character of spider yenom. 
The prejudice is a very ancient one. Diodorus Siculus records 
that there borders upon the country of the Acridophagi a large 
tract of land, rich in fair pastures, but desert and uninhabited. Afore- 
time the region was inhabited, but there fell an immoderate rain, which 
bred a vast host of spiders and scorpions. Whoever was bitten or stung 
by these creatures immediately fell dead. The whole nation arose and at- 
tempted to destroy these implacable enemies of their country, which so 
rapidly increased that they threatened to depopulate the land. In point 
of fact, they did this, for the inhabitants were unsuccessful in their war- 
fare, and were forced to fly to another place.! 
The supposed effects of the Italian tarantula are well known, and 
Supersti- 
tions. 
1 Diodorus Siculus, Book IIT., chapter 2. This wonderful story may also be found recorded 
in Strabo’s Geography, Book XVI., chapter 6, section 13. 
