Most Savage Of Spiders

The tarántula is a large burrowing spider wbich 6 i lis in a shaft-like hole It sinks i:i tl. lts appearance is mdst..repuEÍve, and inspires anyone who examine!? ie wlth a leeling of profound disgust. As it stands, it frequently covers au area as large as the palm of a man s hand, and over its body and Iegs tl. ere bristles a thick covering of v 'dish-brown hair. It may be said that üa home is in many lands, but lts greatc-st slze is attained in tropical and . ■ :r.i-tropical countries. In the south of Europe, along the Mediterranean co: '. '■ has been known for centurks r e "mad spider," because the syrni followlng lts bite are similar to . se of hydrophobia. There the peasanir , especially those of Sicily regard it wltb rningled feelings of hate and superstities dread. They will teil you that the qnly chance of recovery from its bite is for the patiënt to commencing dancing without delay, and to continue until he falls senseless from exhaustion - a remedy which, ridiculous as it seems, has something to be said in its favor, when we know that the one danger is to overeóme the tendency of sleep, says the Chambers' Journal. As long as this can be successfully avoided the patiënt is in no danger; bat if he gives way, and allows himself to fall into a stupor, then he is likely to succumb, even from the comparatively mild poison of the European variety. tt is in the tropical countries of South America, hovever, where all forms of insect and vegetable life attain their highest deveïopment, that this great spider is most deadly. And farther north, in the provinces of Mexico, where it is quite nu.merous, its poison is only a slight degree less dangerous. There we have met it everywhere and studied lts habits. In the orange ordiards, the vineyards anfl the open prairies we have watched it attack enemies many times lts own size, and marveled at the ease with which it overéame them. Even its own kind are not exempt from its flerce onslaught, and we remember once seeing a pair of them meet on an upturned root of a fig tree and fight a duel to the death - the death of both. Of man It seems to have no fear whatever, and will attack without hesitation either his hand or foot, if they come within striking distance. In doing so it stands upon its fcur hind Iegs. It opens wide lts enormous i'angs until the mandibles protrude in a straight line from the face; then, wlth all the muscular forcé it is capabie of, launches itself forward, sinking them wlth a vicious thrust deep into the flesh of the enemy.