Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1897 — SPIDER AND CRAB. [ARTICLE]

SPIDER AND CRAB.

Some of the Queer Things Found in Florida. On the borders of the E verglandes yon often see a large yellow spider. He swings a strong web from two pliant twigs on each side of a path or clear space of ground and waits for his prey, says the Jacksonville Citizen. The web is in the shape of a hammock and tapers at each end to a fine point, though quite broad in the middle. The bright color of the owner seems to mark him out for destruction—he is clearly defined against the white sand or dead leaves, and you wonder what he would do for defense in case of attack. Approach quietly and he watches you Intently. Now raise your hand suddenly and he will disappear! While you are wondering what became of him you will See first a blur where he had been, then several spiders, then you catch sight again of the yellow ball you noticed at first. Repeat the performance and the stage effect is renewed. The disappearance is absolute—there can be no doubt about it, and the little magician trusts to it entirely for his protection. How is this done? As soon as he is threatened he starts the vibrations of his airy hammock. These become too rapid for the eye to follow, and he vanishes. As these become slower you see a blur, and then several spiders as the eye catches him at different points of his wings, until finally he rests before you. Haunting the rookeries of the birds in the southern part of the peninsula is a large blue crab. He makes a hole in the ground, usually under a log, and when he hears a nolce elevates his head and protrudes his eyes with startling effect. He is able to take care of himself, for ids pinchers are powerful, and his shell is hard—he is often as large as a saucer. There is perpetual war between him and the birds. He wanders among the nests at night and appropriates the bits of flesh left by the nestlings, and the young themselves if he can find a mother off her guard. But he has to be sly or he is killed by the stroke of a bayonet bill, and then eaten in Lis turn. When the plume hunters have driven off or destroyed the parents of a rookery these crabs swarm out and destroy the orphan young in short order. But while the mothers are allowed to do their duty, the crabs are ideal scavengers, and devour the refuse as weH as the insects that infest the bird cities. Their bright colors, like those of the tiger, make them less dangerous than their appetites would otherwise be.