83 



tliem (of themselves) use any other remedy than rubbing and applying hot, 

 half-sea) ded leaves to the part, and as soon as convenient taking the bitten 

 one to the priest, to receive the benefit of his incantations, as they then 

 believed in the efficacy of prayers, made to their gods of the hills and valleys." 



Here again are the evidences of a narcotic and irritating poison, whose 

 absorption into the system produced more permanent effects ripon the body ; 

 the elimination of the poison had not been so perfect and rapid as in Huff's 

 case. The strength and tone of the constitution in these individuals was, in 

 all probability, not so powerful, hence the elimination of the poison was not so 

 ready, producing a more permanent influence, in all probability causing a 

 degraded condition of the constitution, a blood-poisoning, that caused subse- 

 quent disease. Again, in all these cases the effect of the poison may, in some 

 degree, have been modified by the condition of the insects' poison-bags, the 

 locality and character of the bite, under any circumstances, however, it is plain 

 that the deleterious effects of the bite of the Katipo, and its poisonous 

 character, has long been recognised and feared by the natives ; and in Huff's 

 case was plainly demonstrated. In Toke's case we can but admire the skill 

 and decision of the missionary, who, all alone in a wild and savage land, could 

 have treated the case so actively and with such good effect, — he, in all 

 probability, preventing the absorption of the poison into the system, by the 

 means he employed. 



From all the information that I can collect, the Katipo is a small spider 

 of about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, measuring across 

 the body and legs, according to the authority of Major Heaphy, who having 

 been Surveyor-General of the Colony, has had abundant opportunity to know 

 the insect, and is familiar with its resorts. 



The Katipo are said to be of two kinds, — one having a dark-glossy body, 

 with a marked red spot on the back ; the other, of about the same size, having 

 a similar round black and shining body, but without the spot. 



Mr. Taylor, in his book, "A Leaf of the Natural History of New Zealand," 

 writes thus : " The Katipo — venomous Spider — one kind red, and one black 

 with a red spot upon its back. Their bite appears to be very poisonous, 

 occasioning a violent swelling of the part." Major Heaphy is inclined to 

 believe that Mr. Taylor is mistaken in describing a red Katipo ; but agrees 

 with him that the one with the black body and red- vermilion spot upon 

 its back, is the most poisonous. 



A difference in the habitat of the Katipo would seem to point to a 

 variety, the one inhabiting the sandy beaches of the sea-shore, taking refuge 

 among the drift wood and roots of sedge or rushes found there, while the other 

 one, with the black body without the red spot, may be discovered in the 

 garden, or among the rafters of any old building. 



Major Heaphy says, " I saw one, with the red- vermilion spot upon its 

 back, at Massacre Bay, near Nelson, in the Middle Island ; a native there 

 obtaining it for me, after a few minutes' search, for a small reward. It was 

 found among the roots of the Wiwi, or ru-h, around some dry drift wood, on 

 the sandy beach . The natives were very careful not to allow it to touch them, 

 they said it would kill them ; but on close enquiry they admitted they never 

 knew of a case of the bite ending fatally, although the bite from them was not 

 uncommon. Great suffering, however, they said ensued, the part swelling 

 considerably." 



On the original plan of the North Shore, near Auckland, the sea beach 

 nearest the north side of the lake, was indicated, in a marginal note, as very 

 celebrated for the number of Katipo existing there. 



The other variety, with the black body without the red spot, is of about 

 the same size as the other, of a dark glossy brown or black colour. This, as 



N 



