Its rusty colour, its ill-shaped body, and hairy legs, combined with the piercing look from its eyes, gave it a most vicious appearance, such as belongs, less or more, to all of its race--for it was of the race _aranea_, or spiders.
"The _leaping tarantula_!" whispered Lucien to his brothers.

"See," he continued, "it is after the ruby-throat!" This was evident.

Step by step, and leap after leap, it was approaching the cluster of blossoms where the humming-bird was at the moment engaged.

Its eyes were bent eagerly upon the latter; and whenever it flew up from the flowers and whirred idly about, the tarantula squatted itself closely, hiding behind the leaves or shanks of the vines.

On the other hand, when the bird settled a moment and appeared busily feeding, the skulking creature would advance a stage nearer, either by a quick run or a leap, when it would again conceal itself and await a fresh opportunity.