Page:An Account of Corsica (1769).djvu/85

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OF CORSICA.
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from eating them. They are, however, a very common dish in the southern countries, particularly in France.

In general, it may be observed that this island is so privileged by nature, that there is no poisonous animal in it. For although there are some scorpions, their bite carries no venom. The creature in Corsica, which approaches nearest to a poisonous animal is a spider, of an extraordinary size. Its bite will irritate, and inflame to a great degree, and the swelling which it occasions, is very alarming to one unacquainted with it; but it soon goes away, and no bad consequences follow, more than from the stinging of our bees. This spider, has by some been mistaken for the famous tarantula of the kingdom of Naples.

Trees grow remarkably well in Corsica. There is here almost every fort of sorell trees, but it is principally adorned with pines of different kinds, oaks, and chestnut trees. All of these are to be found of a great size; some of the pines in particular, are exceedingly lofty, and the chestnut tree grows to a prodigious bigness.

There are extensive forests in different places. That of Yico is most remarkable. There is in Corsica, timber sufficient to maintain a very large fleet, and the timber here, is much harder than one