6 7 3 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



its prey, and, when stretched out, while the creature is watching or 

 moving, they cause the weight of the body to be distributed over a 

 large surface of the fragile web. All this preparation for war is not 

 thrown away, as spiders are plucky and desperate fighters. Although 

 consummate strategists, and availing themselves to the utmost of cun- 

 ning snares, they are ever ready for an attack, and fight ferociously. 

 Their muscular force is very great, and some of them are so tenacious 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 6. 



Terminal Point of the Spider's Foot, 

 showing the Hooked Comb. 



One of the Combs, highly magnified. 



that it is difficult to make them let go their hold of the enemy that 

 has been seized. Of the great crab-spider it is said that the obstinacy 

 and bitterness which it exhibits in combat cease only with its life. 

 Some of them have been seen, which, though pierced twenty times 

 through and through, still continued to assail their adversaries without 

 showing the least desire of escaping them by flight. 



But let us proceed with the animal's structure. The long, many- 

 jointed legs are terminated with a beautiful apparatus resembling a 



Fig. 8. 



Fig. 9. 



'jjflmillf/ww 



Last Joint of one of the Maxillary 

 Palpi of Male Spider. 



The same in theFemale. 



comb, with a pointed hook at the extremity. These instruments are 

 not only of service in its encounters with enemies, but they are skil- 

 fully constructed to grasp, card, disentangle, or wind its threads with 

 the utmost facility. Nothing comparable to it for this purpose can be 

 found among all the contrivances of our factories. Again, glancing 

 at Fig. 5,we notice, on either side of the head, what might be mistaken 

 for a fifth pair of shorter legs : these are the maxillary palpi, which 

 probably correspond partially to the feelers or antennas of insects. 

 They differ in the male and female, and the club-shaped palpi are said 



