Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

THE TARANTULA-KILLER . The Tarantula is a large burrowing spider , which dwells in a shaft-like hole it sinks in the earth . Its appearance is most repulsive , and inspires anyone who examines it with a feeling of profound disgust . As it stands , it frequently covers an area as large as the palm of a man's hand , and over its body and legs there bristles a thick covering of red-brown hair . It may be said that its home is in many lands ; but its greatest size is attained in

tropical and semi-tropical countries . In the south of Europe , along the Mediterranean coast , it has been known for centuries as the " Mad Spider , " because the symptoms following its bite are similar to those of hydrophobia . There the peasantry , especially those of Sicily , regard it with mingled feelings of hate and superstitious dread . They will tell you that the only chance wf recovery from its bite is for the patient to commence dancing

without delay , and lo continue until he falls senseless from exhaustion—a remedy which , ridiculous as it seems , has something to be said in its favour , when we know that the one danger to be overcome is the tendency to sleep . As long as this can be successfully avoided , the patient is in no danger , but if he gives way , and allows himself to fall into a stupor , then he is likely to succumb , even from the comparatively mild poison of the European

variety . It is in the tropical countries of South America , however , where all forms of insect and vegetable life attain their highest development , that this great spider ii most deadly . And further north , in the Provinces of Mexico , where it is quite as numerous , its poison is only a slight degree less dangerous . In the orange orchards , ihe vineyards , and the open prairies , it attacks enemies many times its own siz » , and easily overcomes them .

Even its own kind are not exempt from its fierce onslaught ; if a pair should meet , a duel will be fought to the death-the death of both . Of man it seems to have no fear whatever , and will attack , without hesitation , either his hand or foot , if they come within striking distance . In doing so , it stands upon its four hind legs . It opens wide its enormous fangs , until the mandibles protrude in a straight line from its face , then , with all

the muscular force it is capable of , launches itself forward , sinking them , with a vicious thrust , deep into the flesh of its enemy . Though it burrows a passage in the ground like the trap-door spider , this is its only point of similarity to that industrious tribe . It does not line the walls of its domicile with silk as they do—at least , not to the same extent—nor does it construct the same ingenious device with which they close the entrance to their

underground dwellings , and bar the way to any possible intruders . Perhaps it is because it feels secure in its own might that it disdains any such artifice . At all events , there is a marked contrast between the tarantula and trapdoor spider in this respect , that , while the latter , on the approach of an unknown danger quickly retires to its domicile , closing the door behind it , the tarantula no sooner hears an unusual noise than he boldly sallies forth to

investigate the cause . Yet , notwithstanding all its great courage and pugnacity , there is one enemy , the sound of whose coming throws it into paroxysms of fear . This enemy , of which it has such an instinctive dread , is a large wasp known as the Tarantula Killer . It has a bright blue body , nearly two inches long , and wings of a golden hue . As it llics here and there in the sunlight , glittering like a flash of fire , one moment resting on a

ledge , the next on a granite rock , it keeps up an incessant buzzing , which is caused by the vibration of its wings . No sooner does the tarantula hear this than he trembles with fear , for well he knows the fate in store for him when once his mortal foe perceives his whereabouts . This it soon does and hastens to the attack . At lirst it is content with flying in circles over its intended victim . Gradually it approaches nearer and nearer ; at last , when

it is within a few inches , the tarantula rises upon its hind legs and attempts to grapple with his foe , but without success . Like a fiish the giant wasp is on its back . The deadly fangs have been avoided . The next instant a fearful sting penetrates deep into the spider's body . Its struggles almost cease ; a sudden paralysis creeps over it , and it staggers helpless , like a drunken man , first to one side , then to the other . These symptoms ,

however , are onlyof short duration . While they last thc wasp , buta few inches away , a '" ai : s the result , nor does it have to wait long . A few seconds , and every sign of life lias disappeared ; thc once poweiful legs curl up beneath its body , and it rolls over dead . Then takes place one of those strange incidents which illustrate the perfect adaptation to circumstances everywhere so remarkable in the economy ofthe

insict world , The wasp seizes hold of the now prostrate spider , and drags it lo a bole in the ground . It buries it in the earth , depositing in its back an egg , which changes into a grub , and lives upon the carcase in which it was born . This grub becomes another tarantula wasp , thus adding one more to the ranks of ihe enemy of the spider r ce , The amount of slaughter which these large wasps inflict upon the taran ulas is almost incredible , and

it is noticed that those to which the greatest destruction is due , are the females . It can only be realised when it is known that though the female deposits but one egg in each spider , she has a large number to get rid of , each one of which she provides with a home , and its grub with future sustenance at the expense of the life ol a spider . From the powerful character of the tarantula wasp's sting it may be inferred that they are dangerous to

human beings . Bulthisisnotso . 11 never annoys them unless teased . Without a doubt , it is man's friend , not his enemy , and much would dwellers in Mexico regret its absence were it destroyed . Though much is known of , and has been written about the dreaded tarantula itself , but little is ever heard cf thc tarantula wasp . As is often the case , men remember an injury or damage , but easily forget a service or kindness that may be rendered .

State Of Painting Under Mary I.

STATE OF PAINTING UNDER MARY I .

( . Continued ) . Aniving at the Netherlands , Sir Antonio More went to his birth place , Utrecht , where he found the Duke of Alva , who employed him to draw several of his mistresses , and was made receiver of the revenues of West Flanders . I le burned his easel and give away his tools when he was invited by the Duke of Alva from Utrecht to Btussels , where he continued to piint

for lii tn ; : md , ,-n cording to Van Mandcr , n . il . sed a considerable property by his iiM . li .:. ion . More was a man ol a st . iiely and handsome presence ; andofieii went to Brussels , where he liv-.-J magnificently , lie died at Antwerp , i , 'i , in the . vV . h year of his age . His portrait , painted by himself , is in the chamber ot painters at Floienc :, with which the great duke , who bought it , was so pleased that he ordered a card with some Greek verses ,

State Of Painting Under Mary I.

written by Antonio Maria Salvmi , his Greek professor , to be affixed to the frame . Another picture of himself and one of his wife , were in the collection of Sir Peter Lely . More ' s was 3 feet 6 inches in height by 2 feet 9 inches wide . King Charles had five pictures painted by this master , and the Duke of Buckingham had a portrait of a man by him . At what time , or where he was knighted is uncertain .

A very good portrait of Sir Thomas Gresham is at Houghton . Among the illustrious heads there is a miniature by him , called Thomas Duke oi Norfolk—it belonged to Richardson the painter , and came out of the Arundelian collection ; and a half-length of a lady in black , with gold chain about her wrist , which is mentioned in the catalogue of pictures of James II ., and by that of Charles I ., appears to be Margaret of Valois

sister of Henry II . of France , and Duchess of Savoy at the tournament , for whose wedding that monarch was killed . We may mention , with regard to the collection of pictures at Houghton , that thc whole , or the greater portion of it , was sold to the Empress Catherine II . of Russia , and is now at St . Petersburgh . At Newstead Abbey , in Nottinghamshire , the beautiful seat of the Lords Byron , where are the most perfect remains of an ancient

convent , is an admirable portrait , painted , as is believed , by this mister , and worthy of Holbain . It is a half-length of a fat man , with a bsard , on a light greenish ground . His arms are three roses , the middle one highest , on a field argent ; something like a green hill . These arms are repeated on his ring , and over them J . N ., 1557 . As this bearing is evidently foreign , we may suppose the portrait represents one of the family

of Numigen . Nicholas Byron married Sophia , daughter of Lambert Charles of Numigen . But More did not always confine himself to portraits . He painted several historic pieces , particularly one , much esteemed , of the Resurrection of Christ with the angels , and another of Peter and Paul . A painter who afterwards sold it to the Prince of Condc obtained a great deil of money by exhibiting it , at the Foire de . St . Germain , near Paris . He

made a fine copy of Titian s Dante , with the shower of gold , for the king ; and left , unfinished , the Circumcision , designed for the altar in the church of Our Lady at Antwerp . In the catalogue of pictures , at the Palais Royal , is a portrait said to be of Grotius , by Antonio More , who , in fact , was dead above 20 years before Grotius was born . There is also a portrait of Anne Stanhope , Duchess of Somerset , second wife of the Protector , whose portrait she holds in her hand , attributed to Sir Antonio More . ( To be continued . )]

The Operatic Overtures Of Rossini.

THE OPERATIC OVERTURES OF ROSSINI .

Some time ago we said that we might have some more to say about Rossini ; we propose now to briefly consider a few of the overtures of his leading operas . In these the maestro seems to have successfully aimed at originality . If we carefully examine any one of his popular overtures we shall generally find there are a few passages by way of an introduction then will follow an Adagio or Andante movement , as the case may be , to

be afterwards adopted in the body of the opera itself , forming the foundation for the florid vocalisation of which we have previously spoken . After this movement there will follow a melody or melodies , either Allegro or Allegretto , which will be most elaborately worked out until it arrives at what we should naturally consider to be the termination ; but no , we see the direction " Da Capo , " and we have to turn back to the beginning of the

Allegro and repeat the movement until we ultimatel y come to the conclusion . If we examine the overtures of " II Barbiere di Siviglia , " " Tancredi , " " La Gazza Ladra , " and more especially " bemiramide , " we shall find that they are all constructed on these broad lines—they are overladen with ornament , but this is Rossini ' s particular style—he may be considered the master of the florid school of music . It cannot be denied that there is a

considerable amount of padding in these brilliant overtures , which , to our modern taste , appears tedious and superfluous , but then we must gratefully remember that imbedded as it were in much that it is cemmonplace , there are pure gems of melody which will never be forgotten . VVe might give several instances , but we will only mention the lovely slow movement in the overture to . " Semiramide . " Then think of the symphony in the

overture to " Gaigliclmo Tell " — how wonderfully descriptive is the music representing the storm in the Alps , ils continmuce , and its ultimate dying away in the echoes of the mountains—we can almost fancy ourselves to be there—then the clear bright notes of the Ruiz de Vaches ; thc sun seems to pour forth its joyous beams , bidding nature again to rejoice . We well remember our hearing this for the first time at the Italian Opera . We were

entranced ; it still continues to be our favourite of all the overtures of Rossini . Ere we conclude we will give some details respecting the overture to the opera of " Otello . " As the story goes , after the opera had been completed and put in the hands of the impressario for rehearsal , ii was found that there was no overture . Rossini was requested to furnish one , but , with nis customary dilatoriness , he put oil day after day writing it , though

constantly urged to do so . At last it came to the morning of the day fixed for the final rehearsal . The impressario was at his wit ' s end , he did not know what to do . He must have an overture ; he dare not represent the opera without it ; the public would not have suffered it . It is related that when Rossini that morning was Bacchi plenus lull of wine , he left him suddenly , locked him in the room with music paper , pens , and ink , and swore he would not release him till the overture was furnished . Rossini set to wjrkwrote

, sheet after sheet till it was finished , passing them under the door . Eich portion was rehearsed by the band , and the overture was given at thc Grand Opera next evening previous to the commencement oi the work . This is as the story goes ; we will not vouch for its truth . The Italian proverb says " Se non vero e ben trovato "— " If not true , it may well be considered so . "

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

If it be true that Mr . Hermann Merivale has lost his invested fortune through the def uilc of a solicitor , one of the burning questions of the hour will be brought home to many connected with the theatre . Actors are not the thriftless men and women many imagine ; but they ate a confiding class . After Sir George Lewis ' s declarationone

, would be inclined to advise a general examination of deposited securities . Meanwhile , what is to be done for Mr . Merivale , a great lover of the sta-e ' a brilliant writer , the author of several li iL > dramas , and ahs , now , " in the ' evening ol his days , " deprived of a well-earned income ? There should be no difficulty in securing for him a civil list pension .