'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Sunday, 17 April 2016

Vagrant Spider

       Here's a lovely male Vagrant Spider that came inside tonight.  He is about 6cm across. We have been having a BBQ party to say farewell to my son James and his lovely German girlfriend Silke, and the doors were open so I guess he thought he would pop inside and check out the place.
They are nocturnal, not well studied, and man, can they run fast!  This one pattered audibly across the carpet before I cornered him and got him into a jar.  I will take some more photos and let him go down the bank of the estate.

See the salmon-pink palp… I thought it was a bit of debris on the carpet at first, until I looked them up. In twenty-two years here, it's the first one I've seen.

Some people keep them as pets, and I can certainly see the appeal.

Loads more news to share.  See you tomorrow.



2 comments:

  1. Alden Smith17.4.16

    Spiders press all my primordial fear buttons (no one actually taught me to dislike them so intensely) - the words "This one pattered audibly (AUDIBLY!!!!) across the carpet) fills me with dread! (AND, "THEY CAN RUN FAST!!!") - yikes! As for keeping one as a pet!? give me a friendly old dog that I can take to the beach to throw a stick with or a cat on my lap by the fireside any day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kate17.4.16

      Yep. In this case Alden, I felt the same as you... but in a securely covered terrerium, I'd be happy with a pair!

      Delete

Spam will go in the incinerator. All other comments are gratefully received. Communication is what makes the world go 'round.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)