THE KING OF SPIDERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 46, 18 November 1893, Page 415

THE KING OF SPIDERS.

Ceylon is the home of the largest species of spider that has yet been made the subject of entomological investigation. This web-spinning monster lives in the most mountainous districts of that rugged island, and places his trap—not a gossamer snare of airy lightness, but a huge net of yellow silk from five to ten feet in diameter—across the chasms and fissures in the rocks. The supporting guys of this gigantic net, which in all cases is almost strong enough for a hammock, are from five to twenty feet in length (as conditions and circumstances may require), made of a series of twisted webs, the whole being of the diameter of a lead pencil. As might be imagined, this gigantic silken trap is not set for mosquitoes, Hies and pestiferous gnats, but for birds, gaudy moths and elegantiy-painted butterflies, some of the latter having a spread of wing equal to that of a robin or a blue jay. Some extra fine skeletons of small birds, lizards, snakes, etc., have been found in these webs, with every vestige of flesh picked from them. The owner and maker of these queer silk traps is a spider with a body averaging four and a-half inches in width and six inches in length, and with legs nine to twelve inches from body to terminal claw. Some are spotted, others red with greeni: h-gold abdomen and legs.