textfiles/humor/spider.hum

I make a Tarantula bite the leg of a young, well-fledged Sparrow, ready
to leave the nest. A drop of blood flows; the wounded spot is
surrounded by a reddish circle, changing to purple. The bird almost
immediately loses the use of its leg, which drags, with the toes
doubled in; it hops upon the other. apart from this, the patient does
not seem to trouble much about his hurt; his appetite is good. My
daughters feed him on Flies, bread-crumb, apricot-pulp. He is sure to
get well, he will recover his strength; the poor victim of the curiosity
of science will be restored to liberty. This is the wish, the intention
of us all. Twelve hours later, the hope of a cure increases; the
invalid takes nourishment readily; he clamours for it, if we keep him
waiting. But the leg still drags. I set this down to a temporary
paralysis which will soon disappear. Two days after, he refused
his food. Wrapping himself in his stoicism and rumpled feathers, the
Sparrow hunches into a ball, now motionless, now twitching, My girls
take him in the hollow of their hand and warm him with their breath.
The spasms become more frequent. A gasp proclaims that all is over. The
bird is dead.
 
There was a certain coolness among us at the evening-meal. I read mute
reproaches, because of my experiments, in the eyes of my home-circle; I
read an unspoken accusation of cruelty all around me. The death of the
unfortunate Sparrow had saddened the whole family. I myself was not
without some remorse of conscience: the poor results achieved seemed too
dearly bought. I am not made of the stuff of those who, without turning
a hair, rip uo Live dogs to find out nothing in particular,
 
J. Henri Fabre. The Life of the Spider. ca. 1875.
 
The Tarantula referred to is an European spider not related in size or
other way to the large hairy Mygalomorphs found in the southwestern
US, Central/South America and Southern Africa.
 
Another WiZ upload. 1iii87.