v.] 



BIRD -EATING SPIDERS. 



105 



showed no intention of flight, and quietly watched the issue of 

 events close by. I am not aware that this genus is avivorous, but 

 the huge Mygale is supposed to be. One of these is a common species 

 in Borneo, living in holes in banks. The entrance is perfectly 

 circular and about two inches in diameter, and the smooth tunnel 

 leads backwards to a small chamber eighteen inches or more from 

 the mouth. This creature is of enormous size — the body as much 



•' BONGON. 



as three inches long, by an inch in width, and it is no doubt quite 

 strong enough to cope, not merely with a callow nestling, but even 

 with an adult bird of small size. 



A day or two after our Bongon expedition we became the 

 fortunate possessors of the best pet that ever took up his quarters 

 on board the Marchesa. He was a present from Mr. Gueritz, the 

 Eesident of Kudat, who received him from an English-speaking 

 Malay in the Company's service, accompanied by the following 

 note announcino' his arrival : — 



