Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/306

250 amongst so many numerous tribes caused us great surprize, although we knew that some Europeans eat spiders, and in preference such as are found in cellars, which they affirm taste like nuts.

The inhabitants of New Caledonia call this a species of nougui, which I distinguish by the name of aranea edulis (spider which the Caledonians eat.). This spider is represented in Plate XII. Fig. 4. The situation of its eyes (See Fig. 5 and 6.) which are eight in number, two being near the middle of its back, at a great distance from the others, make me give it a place in a new section of a black colour. Its back is grey, and above is covered with silver down; between the eyes are four spots of a brown colour; below it is black. The lower part of the belly is of the same colour as the upper part of the back, and is marked with from eight to ten spots of a brown colour. On the sides are six greyish lines in an oblique direction, and below several faun-coloured spots. The legs, which are also of a faun-colour and covered with claws of a silver grey, are blackish towards their extremity.

One of the fusileers who accompanied us had lost one of his pistols; we informed the inhabitants of this circumstance, and promised them a reward if they would bring it to us. It was with considerable pleasure that we saw, an hour