. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE GALEODES. 513 Even the scorpion itself is hardly more formidable in aspect than the Galeodes, and to the generality of the insect tribe it is even a more dreadful foe. Armed with two paii's of powerful mandibles placed side by side, like the claws of lobsters without their jointed foot- stalks, the Galeodes sets off at night in search of prey. It runs with wonderful rapidity, more like a mouse than a spider, and, from tlie large size to which it sometimes attains, covers much more sp
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE GALEODES. 513 Even the scorpion itself is hardly more formidable in aspect than the Galeodes, and to the generality of the insect tribe it is even a more dreadful foe. Armed with two paii's of powerful mandibles placed side by side, like the claws of lobsters without their jointed foot- stalks, the Galeodes sets off at night in search of prey. It runs with wonderful rapidity, more like a mouse than a spider, and, from tlie large size to which it sometimes attains, covers much more space than a mouse as it darts over the Hoor. One specimen I saw was about two inches in length, exclusive of the limbs, and measured exactly ten inches in total length. With straightened limbs the length would have been very greatly increased. A large specimen of the Galeodes will attack any insect and almost any creature of small size. It has been known to leap upon a lizard, to cling to its back as the combatants rolled about on the ground, to kill it by driving its fangs into the spinal cord at the junction at the head with the neck, and, finally, to eat it entirely with the exception of some of the larger bones. The Lizax-d measured three inches in length, exclusive of the GALEODES.—Sotpuga. or Galeodes araneoides. Much attention has been given to the Galeodes and its habits by Lieutenant-General J. Hearsey, who has kindly communicated to me the following obsei*vations :— When the Galeodes approaches any creature that it desires to attack, it thrusts out its long palpi, touches the body with the rounded tips of those members, and immediately raises them aloft, as if fearful lest they should be injured. The whole action is wonderfully like the manner in which an elephant flings its pi'oboscis in the air after touching anything of which it is not quite sure. The tips of the palpi are rounded and soft, and when they are applied to any object a sort of phosphorescent
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
