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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 569, 12 February 1891, Page 2

At the inquest in Wellington on the death of the man who had been bitten by a katipo spider, Mr W. M. Maskell was summoned by the Coroner to give information as to the nature of the spiderHe said it was to be found in a great many countries. Among scientific men who have studied spiders there has been a good deal of doubt until recently as to whether spiders of this genius are dangerous, but from a series of communications from various partsofthe world which have lately appeared in an American publication called “ Insect Life,” it seems as if it were fairly settled that this genus is venemous. It seemed probable that the conditions of climate may have an effect, and that in hot climates or warm weather, the poison may be more powerful. With regard to the New Zealand spider, he had known of one case of poisoning, and heard of others. He produced a list of cases prepared by an Auckland gentleman of persons who had been bitten by katipo Spiders, and from this it appeared that the bite was not fatal to healthy adult persons, but was always accompanied by great pain with severe depression and spasms. The katipo is a black spider about the size of a pea. On the upper side of the body there is a red or yellowish zig-zag mark. There is said to be a variety with a red body and black mark. The spiders are found almost exclusively by the seashore, principally where there are sand-hills.