74 
TRAP-DOOR SPIDER 
TRAP-DOOR SPIDER. 
Both the Tarantula, or Trap-Door, spider 
(Pl. V. 9), and its wonderfully made nest 
(PL Y. 8), are offered for sale. 
Spider. The spider is fully an inch long, 
black, with full round abdomen and short 
legs. 
Sting. This spider had the reputation, 
now discredited, for producing a state of 
numbness and insensibility in any person 
whom it has stung, and death was supposed 
to be a sure consequence were it not possible 
to call into requisition the charms of music. 
The medical Orpheus had to play, in the 
patient’s hearing, several tunes until some 
sign of the regaining of consciousness was 
noted ; the same tune was then vigorously 
continued, the patient rising and starting 
dancing and perhaps not stopping for six or 
more hours. On the musician’s continuing 
the music until the patient’s desire to dance 
was exhausted hung the chance of recovery. 
A poor chance the sufferer would have with 
many hard hearted musicians who will not 
give the “ just one more extra” repeatedly de- 
sired. Doubtless these musicians will cross 
the path of some visitors, here or in some other 
part of the world, before the “ desire to dance 
is exhausted” and our sympathy is offered. 
If is reported in the district where these 
spiders are most common that persons have 
died from their sting but no definite informa- 
tion could be obtained. The Spiders certainly 
possess fully developed poisonous glands. 
