AKACHN1DES-SP1DER. 795 



be torn away, or a joint cut off, a new one will quickly grow in its place, 

 and the animal will find itself fitted for combat as before. At the end of 

 each leg there are three crooked moveable claws ; namelv, a small one, 

 placed higher up, like a cock's spur, by the assistance of which it adheres to 

 the threads of its web. There are two others larger, which meet together 

 like a lobster's claw, by which they can catch hold of the smallest depres- 

 sions, walking up or down very polished surfaces, on which they can find 

 inequalities that are imperceptible to our grosser sight. But when they 

 walk upon such bodies as are perfectly smooth, as looking-glass or polished 

 marble, they squeeze a little sponge, which grows near the extremity of 

 their claws, and thus diffusing a glutinous substance, adhere to the surface 

 until they make a second step. Besides the eight legs just mentioned, these 

 animals have two others, which may more properly be called arms, as they 

 do not serve to assist motion, but are used in holding and managing their 

 prey. 



The spider, though thus formidably equipped, would seldom prove suc- 

 cessful in the capture, were it not equally furnished with other instruments 

 to assist its depredations. It is a most experienced hunter, and spreads its 

 nets to catch such animals as it is unable to pursue. The spider's web is 

 generally laid in those places where flies are most apt to shelter. There 

 the little animal remains for days, nay, weeks together, in patient expecta- 

 tion, seldom changing its situation though ever so unsuccessful. 



For the purposes of making this web, nature has supplied this animal 

 with a large quantity of glutinous matter, and five dugs or teats for spinning 

 it into thread. This substance is contained in a little bag, and at first sight 

 resembles soft glue ; but when examined more accurately, it will be found 

 twisted into many coils of an agate color, and upon breaking it, the contents 

 may easily be drawn out into threads, from the tenacity of the substance, 

 not from those threads being already formed. Those who have seen the 

 machine by which wire is spun, will have an idea of the manner in which 

 this animal forms the threads of its little net, the orifices of the five teats 

 above mentioned, through which the thread is drawn, contracting or dilating 

 at pleasure. The threads which we see, and appear so fine, are, notwith- 

 standing, composed of five joined together, and these are many times doubled 

 when the web is in formation. 



When a house spider proposes to begin a web, it first makes choice of 

 some commodious spot, where there is an appearance of plunder and secu- 

 rity. The animal then distils one little drop of its glutinous liquor, which is 

 very tenacious, and then creeping up the wall, and joining its threads as it 

 proceeds, it darts itself in a very surprising manner to the opposite place, 

 where the other end of the web is to be fastened. The first thread thus 

 formed, drawn tight, and fixed at each end, the spider then runs upon it 

 backward and forward, still assiduously employed in doubling and strengthen- 

 ing it, as upon its force depend the strength and stability of the whole. The 



