462 
SUPPLEMENT 
t€ The mygale carries its eggs enclosed in a cocoon of white 
silk, of a very close tissue, forming two rounded pieces, united 
at their border. It supports this cocoon under its corslet, by 
means of its antennulae, and transports it along with itself. 
When very much pressed by its enemies, it abandons it for 
an instant ; but it returns to take it up as soon as the combat 
is concluded. 
u The little ones are disclosed in a rapid succession. They 
are entirely white ; the first change which they undergo is the 
appearance of a triangular and hairy spot, which forms on the 
centre of the upper part of the abdomen. 
“ I had preserved from 1800 to 2000 of these, all which 
proceeded from the same cocoon. They were all devoured 
in a single night by some red ants, which, guided by an 
instinct that set at defiance all my cares, discovered the 
box in which I had inclosed the spiders, and insinuated 
themselves into it by means of an almost imperceptible aper- 
ture, through which myriads of them passed, one by one, in 
the space of a few hours. It is owing, in all probability, to 
the destructive war waged upon the avieularise by these 
insects, that the number of these arachnides is confined within 
such narrow limits, which by no means correspond with their 
prodigious capability of reproduction.” 
According to M. Palisot de Beauvois, the mygale avicu- 
laria , inhabits the open country, and establishes itself in the 
cavities presented to it by the soil. It closes the aperture of 
its dwelling with a web, as do many other congeneric ara- 
ne'ides. 
Another mygale, called recluse by M. Latreille, constructs 
its nest in the same manner as the mason- mygale, of which 
more anon. It fixes its abode in stony places, and its bite, 
according to Brown, causes a very severe pain, which lasts 
for many hours, and is sometimes even accompanied with 
fever and delirium. The ordinary sudorifics, spirituous 
