Some Interesting Experiments. 
239 
struck the ground close to it, when it instantly leaped upon and 
ran up the lash, and was actually within three or four inches of 
my hand when I flung the whip from me.” 13 
In another place Hudson says: “ The spiders I have spoken 
of up to now are timid, inoffensive creatures, chiefly of the 
Epeira family; but there are many others exceedingly high- 
spirited and, like some of the most touchy hymenopteras, always 
prepared to ‘ greatly quarrel ’ over matters of little moment. The 
Mygales, of which we have several species, are not to be treated 
with contempt. One is extremely abundant on the pampas, the 
Mygale fusca, a veritable monster, covered with dark brown hair, 
and called in the vernacular araneapeluda —hairy spider. In the 
hot month of December these spiders take to roaming about on 
the open plain, and are then everywhere seen travelling in a 
straight line with a slow even pace. They are very great in 
attitudes, and when one is approached it immediately throws 
itself back, like a pugilist preparing for an encounter, and stands 
up so erect on its four hind feet that the under surface of its 
body is displayed. * * * * j n the case of the hairy spider 
I do not think any creature, however stupid, could mistake its 
meaning when it stands suddenly up, a figure horribly grotesque; 
then, dropping down on all eights, charges violently forwards.” 14 
When in Guatemala, some years ago, we frequently made these 
Mygales rise up on their hind legs, as is described by Hudson, 
by pointing the stick of a sweep-net at them, always keeping at 
a safe distance, since if excited they would jump a remarkable 
distance to reach the offending object. 
M. Plateau criticises Eugene Simon’s statement that Lycosa 
leaps upon its prey from a distance, saying that his judgment 
must be based upon very superficial observations. 15 We trust 
that we have shown that it is rather venturesome for a critic 
who cannot have devoted more than a few weeks to the subject 
to so lightly dispose of the opinion of a naturalist who has 
studied spiders in many parts of the world, both in the closet 
and the field, for more than twenty-five years. 
13 The Naturalist in La Plata , p. 192. 
14 Ibid., p. 191. 
15 Ibid., p. 21. 
