kful that it was daylight, for the storm would have appeared even
more terrific at night.

Although there were no large inhabitants in our woody cavern, I
discovered several insects. The ground inside it was covered with
earth, and almost level. I observed a large reddish spider running in
and out with wonderful rapidity among the uneven parts of the wood. Now
it darted out on a small insect, and quickly devoured it; immediately
setting forth again in search of another, which it pounced upon in the
same energetic way. I had seldom seen so large and hideous-looking a
spider, and felt a horror lest it should come near us. It moved so
quickly that I in vain attempted to reach it. Presently I saw it run
along the ground, when it entered a small hole which I had not before
observed. Though I had exactly marked the spot, I in vain searched for
it. After a time I saw the earth lifting, and out came the spider
again. I sprang down to the spot, and there I found a small circular
substance, of a pure, silky white, like paper, about the size of a
shilling. On touching it, I discovered that it was a regular trap-door
with a hinge, and, on turning it down, that the outside was coated with
earth, so exactly like that in which the hole was made, that when shut
it was impossible to discover it. I observed inside a substance which I
took to be eggs; and I had little doubt, therefore, that this was the
nest of the spider I had seen. I pointed it out to Natty, who was,
however, too weak to feel inclined to rise and examine it; and when I
again looked, I could nowhere discover the hole, and the spider had
disappeared. I could not help having an uncomfortable feeling that the
creature might come out again and attack us. But I may as well say here
that it did not do so; and on making inquiries since, I found that
though people are often frightened at its appearance, it has never been
known to do any harm. There is another spider which builds a regular
nest with a lid, and attaches it to a wall or the branch of a tree.
Whether it is of the same species as the one I have described or not, I
am uncertain. There are spiders in Africa which are said to inflict
poisonous wounds. One is a very large, black, hairy creature, fully an
inch and a quarter long, and three-quarters of an inch broad. It has a
process at the end of its front claws like that of a scorpion's tail,
out of which poison, when it is pressed, is seen to ooze. I h