96 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Tarantola is given very improperly, in that country, to 

 a very large fpider, the back and legs of which are co- 

 vered with a fine, foft, blackifli down, like that upon 

 young chickens. This fpider is peculiar to the hot 

 countries, and is found in houfcs as well as in the fields. 

 It is fuppofed TO be poifonous, and it is generally believ- 

 ed that if a horfe tramples upon one, he very foon lofes 

 his hoof ; but I have never known a fingle inflance of 

 this happening, although 1 was for five years in a very 

 hot country where thofe fpiders were in great numbers. 

 The Cafampulga is a fmall fpider of the fize of a chick 

 pea, with fliort legs, and a red belly. This fpider is 

 venomous, and common in the diocefs of Chiapa, and 

 elfewhere. It feems to anfwer to the defcription of what 

 is called the Ragno capullino in other countries, but I 

 do not know whether it is the fame. 



The mofl common ants of that country are of three 

 kinds : firft, the fmall black ants the fame with thofe of 

 Europe ; next, the large red ants called by the Spaniards 

 bravas^ or fierce, which give very painful wounds v/ith 

 their ftings : and lailly, the large brown ants, called by 

 the Spaniards harrieras^ or carriers, becaufe they are 

 continually employed in carrying grain for their provi- 

 fion, and for that reafon they are much more hurtful to 

 the country than the common ants. Thefe carrier ants 

 have been fufiered by the carelelTnefs of the inhabitants 

 in fome places to multiply to excefs \ and in the province 

 of Xicayan black lines are feen upon the earth for feve- 

 ral miles, which confifl of nothing but of thofe ants go- 

 ing and coming. 



Befides the three fpecies already mentioned, there is a 

 fingular kind of ant in Michuacan which, perhaps, is to 

 be met v/ith in other provinces. It is larger than the 



common 



