Chapter 25
section twenty five of birds in all nature volume seven number five may nineteen hundred recorded for librivox dot org by matthew parks a tame tarantula a half-breed boy of mexican and indian blood recently attracted much attention at winslow arizona by the performance of an educated tarantula he owns he carries the big formidable-looking insect in a large wooden box slung about his neck which when exhibiting his pet he places on the ground as a sort of stage at the command of its master the tarantula mounted a small ladder rung a bell and performed on a miniature trapeze then to the thumping of a tambourine in the hands of the boy it proceeded to revolve slowly about as if waltzing and when it had finished saluted the crowd by lifting one leg three times after its performance was over it crawled to its master's shoulder where it sat occasionally running around his neck or down into his bosom
The boy says he tamed the spider when it was young, first by feeding it every day until it grew accustomed to him, then gradually taught it the tricks it knows. He declares that it is much more intelligent than any dog, and very tractable, though uncompromising in its enmity to anyone but himself. It is as large as a silver dollar when curled up, though its legs are two or three inches long. The body is an ugly dull brown, covered with short, coarse black hair, which also covers the limbs, but is very sparse and bristly. The eyes are small and gleam like diamond points, while the mouth is furnished with slender, overlapping fangs.
The power of spring in these creatures is said to be something incredible, a leap of ten feet being no tremendous exertion. the boy who owns the only one which has ever made friends with any other living creature is from the magalon mountains end of section twenty five this recording is in the public domain
