132 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
the timber is far superior, and the colour is more rich. 
The last description is by far the strongest, and is there- 
fore the best adapted for chairs, the legs of tables, and 
other purposes in which a moderate size has to bear a con- 
siderable strain. Since the produce of Jamaica has been 
nearly exhausted, there are only two kinds known in the 
market. Bay wood, or that which is got from the conti- 
nent of America, and Spanish wood, or the produce of the 
islands- chiefly of Cuba and Hayti. Though the Bay wood 
is inferior to the other both in value and in price, it is 
often very beautiful, and may be obtained in logs as large 
as six feet square. It is, however, not nearly so compact 
as the other; the grain is apt to rise in polishing, and if it 
be not covered by a water-proof varnish, it is very easily 
stained. It also gives to the tool in carving, and is not 
well adapted for ornaments. Spanish wood cuts well, 
takes a fine polish, resists scratches, stains, and fractures 
much better, and is generally the only sort upon which 
much or delicate workmanship should be expended. The 
colours of Mahogany do not come well out without the 
application of oil or varnish; and if the best sorts be often 
washed with water, or long macerated in it, they lose 
their beauty, and become of a dingy brown. The red is 
deepened by alkaline applications, especially lime-water; 
but strong acids destroy the colour. When the surface is 
covered by a colourless varnish, which displays the natu- 
ral tints without altering any of them, good Mahogany 
appears to the greatest advantage. 
The Fehrifuga , or East India Mahogany, is a very 
large tree. It grows in the mountainous parts of central 
Hindostan, rises to a great height with a straight trunk, 
which, towards the upper part, throws out many branches. 
The head is spreading, and the leaves have some resem- 
blance to those of the American species. The wood is of 
a dull red colour, not so beautiful as common Mahogany, 
but much harder, heavier, and more durable. The na- 
tives of India account it the most lasting timber that their 
country produces, and therefore they employ it in their 
sacred edifices, and upon every occasion where they wish 
to combine strength and durability. 
The Chloroxylon is chiefly found in the mountains of 
the Sircars, that run parallel to the Bay of Bengal, to the 
N. E. of the mouth of the River Godovery. The tree 
does not attain the same size as either of the former, and 
the appearance of the wood is different. It is of a deep 
yellow, nearly of the same colour as box, from which it 
does not differ much in durability, and it could be ap- 
plied to the same purposes. 
[Lib. Ent . Knowl. 
THE TARANTULA. 
The Tarantula , of the fatal effects of whose poison, 
and of the influence of music in the cure, so much has been 
said, is of the spider tribe, possessing in most particulars, 
all the characters peculiar to that species of insect. It is 
a native of Italy, Cyprus, Barbary, and the East Indies; 
in the two former countries, credulity on the one hand, 
and imposition on the other, have given it a quality which 
it does not merit, viz. the power of destroying humanlife 
by its bite, unless timely prevented by the most fascinat- 
ing music. Accordingly, travellers in those countries 
have furnished us with a number of amusing anecdotes, 
strongly illustrative of the effects of superstition on the 
human mind, when unenlightened by the beams of sci- 
ence, or where tradition has closed the door to reason and 
the most obvious conviction. These anecdotes, which 
must be familiar to every reading person, we do not deem 
necessary here to detail; but shall merely observe, that 
the bite of the Tarantula is never inflicted but when acci- 
dentally irritated; and though it always produces most 
severe pain, swelling, and discolouration of the part, and 
in constitutions of particular irritability, fainting fits, spas- 
modic affections, and even convulsions; yet it has in no 
instance, within our experience, (founded upon a four 
years’ residence in the south part of Europe and in Bar- 
bary,) proved fatal; nor could we learn from others, that 
such an effect was ever produced; the symptoms being 
readily removed by the remedies which are efficacious in 
the bites or stings of other venomous insects. 
This animal, which like other spiders, is made up of 
two divisions united by a slender thread, the one consist- 
ing of the head and breast, the other of the belly, rather 
exceeds an inch in length, and is of an ash colour on its 
breast, belly, and legs, and underneath is distinguished by 
blackish rings. It has eight legs united like that of a 
lobster; and eight eyes, two of which are red, are larger 
than the others, and are placed in front; four others are 
placed transversely towards the mouth; the other two are 
nearer the back. This number of eyes seems necessary in 
an animal whose existence depends upon its activity and 
vigilance; and particularly as the eyes are immoveable in 
the socket, and therefore cannot, when required, turn in 
different directions. 
Its poisonous mechanism consists of two nippers or 
fangs on the fore part of the head with strong points, toothed 
like a saw, and terminating in claws like those of a cat. 
A little below the point of the claw, there is a small hole 
through which the animal emits the poison; and from this 
apparatus, its means of attack and defence are derived. 
