XX ITIKERARY. 



would flit about from branch to branch, quite in full view, uttering 

 their cries, evidently unafraid until startled. 



Two very interesting specimens — one a veiy large tarantula (J/yr/aZe) 

 with a span the size of a soup-plate and the other a very large black 

 scorj)ion— were obtained accidentally by the men along the trail. In 

 passing under a thick dead branch covered by a mass of epiphytes, one 

 of the men had knocked off quite a lot of the dead stuff with the top of 

 his load, and the tarantula had jumped off on to the basket. The man 

 behind saw it, and they were able to secure it without damage. The 

 scorpion was found almost .similarly, though it was in the stuff knocked 

 ofi'on to the ground, which perhaps was lucky. 



These large ]\rygale are the commonly described bird-eating spiders, 

 and many instiinces are recorded substantiating this feature of their 

 habits. I have never myself observed any instance of this kind in my 

 travels over the length and breadth of the colony, but it was once my 

 experience along the Ujtper Korentyn river to have proof of a kind 

 not very unlike. "While occupving for a night the old thatched mission- 

 house at Apera, attention had been attracted during dinner by the loud 

 fluttering of some large insect high up under the roof. As bats were 

 numerous in the little-frequented quarters, and the district was noted 

 for the depredations of the blood-suckers, a light was kept burning all 

 night, though it was turned down quite low before we retired to the 

 hammocks for sleep. But a few minutes of semi-daikness had passed, 

 however, before there was a heavy flop on the bark floor, and on 

 turning up the light we found a lai-ge Mygale in full possession of a 

 \evj large hawk-moth. The fluttering insect had evidently drawn the 

 attention of the spider in its flights against the thatch, and the dark- 

 ness had given the opportunity for a successful spiing. Though much 

 turned about with a stick the captor stuck to his prey, and they both 

 finished their adventure in a large potassium cyanide killing-bottle. 

 It ■was a surprise to me to find that the large spider was quite un- 

 damaged by its fall from the height, which must have been some 

 sixteen feet or more from the roof. The seizure of a poised humming- 

 bird, or of some other small species, would be a much less difticult 

 enterprise. 



A quite surprising haunt for these spiders is the hollow in the 

 central crown of leaves of the pine-a}>p]e plants, where they protect 

 themselves by a thick web acioss the top, which appears also to be a 

 sufficient shelter to throw off' the I'ain. On some of the cultivated 

 areas on or near the coast, especially where there is little attempt at 

 clean culture, or in partially abandoned lands in the sandhills, a quite 

 astonishing number of these creatures could .at times be obtained. 

 Doubtless the very spiny leaves of the plants provide protection against 

 some common enemy, but I was never able to satisfy myself as to its 

 nature, whether mammal or bird, reptile or batrachian, though tlie 

 peculiarity of the very hairy covering of the diet would suggest one of 

 the latter, which are much hardier feeders, if the term may be allowed. 



Scorpions and centipedes, though not often seen, are common in the 

 forests, as would soon be evident where heavy rains had flooded the 

 forest-floor, driving the occupants of the rocky shelters, and of the 

 dried leaves aiid debris, off' the ground for refuge up the stems of 



