The Great Spider | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

The Great Spider.

The little humming-bird that glitters in the sun has a very frightful enemy. This enemy will set a trap for him, and the poor little bird will flutter in. Once in, there is no chance of getting out again. The trap is a strong, thick web, woven by a spider. Can a spider catch a bird? Yes; there is a kind of spider that can. Indeed, it is called “the bird-catching spider.” It makes a little tunnel for itself to live in, and lines it with a white substance like muslin. Here it lies in wait for its prey, and is ready to pounce out upon any poor little bird that gets entangled in its net. The spider is quite a monster to look at. Its legs are as thick as quills, and it is covered all over with coarse hairs. If you touched the hairs they would run into your fingers and make them smart and tingle for several days. There is one kind of bird-catching spider that is not content to wait at home for its prey. It goes out hunting. It will climb the trees and hide itself under the leaves. If it can find the nest of the humming-bird, it will soon devour the little ones. And if it sees the mother bird coming, it will dart upon her and seize her with its great claws. The poor little humming-bird can never get away if she is once caught. Where do these great spiders live? In India and South America. A traveler in South America wanted to bring one of these spiders home with him. He asked some Indian children to catch one for him. The next day he saw them bringing the spider to him. How do you think they brought it? They had tied a string round its body, and were leading it along as if it had been a dog.—World at Home.