m 



The Clu'giia (pulcx penetrans) called by the 

 Chilians iiigiia or peqiii, is found only in the en- 

 virons of the city of Coquimboj and so rarely is 

 it met with even therCj that I have been assured 

 by a person v^ho resided there mnny yearS;, that a 

 single child was the only instance he had heard of 

 any one's having been incommoded by this insect. 

 Nigua is a generic term in Chilian^ signifving 

 all kinds of vermin or animalculae which infest 

 animalsj particularly the feathered tribe ; these 

 are precisely similar to those of Europe. Llloa 

 appears^ therefore^, to have been ignorant of the 

 extensive signification of this word in Chilian^ as 

 what he says in his voyage, that the chiguas^ or 

 pricker, is found upon the whole coast of Chili, 

 is contradicted by universal experience. 



Of the spiders there is but one species that is 

 remarkable ; this is the great spider with fangs, 

 which I have called aranea scrofa. It is found 

 in the vicinity of St. Jago, and lives under 

 ground ; the body is as large as a hen's egg, and 

 covered v/ith soft brown hair, and the claws very 

 long and large ; in the middle of its forehead are 

 four large eyes, disposed in the foriri of a square, 

 and at the sides of the head tv. o ethers tliat arc 

 less, and the mouth is furnished with two pin- 

 cers of a shining black, about two lines in kngth, 

 turned back towards the forehead. Notwith- 

 standing its formidable appearance, this spider is 

 not daugf^rous, and serves as an firau'iemcut for 



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