794 ARACHNIDES— SPIDER. 



or stone, as he haa seen the Indians practise before mm. until the flesh be- 

 came insensible. Seba, Moore, ana Bosnian, however, give a very differ- 

 ent account of the scorpion's malignity ; and assert that, unless speedily 

 relieved, the wound becomes fatal. 



It is certain that no animal in the creation seems endued with such an 

 irascible n->t»re 



THE SPIDERi 



Has two divisions in its body. The fore part, containing the head and 

 breast, is separated from the hinder part or belly by a very slender thread, 

 through which, however, there is a communication from one part to the 

 other. The fore part is covered with a hard shell, as well as the legs, which 

 adhere to the breast. The hinder part is clothed with a supple skin, beset 

 all over with hair. They have several eyes all round the head, brilliant and 

 acute ; these are sometimes eight in number, sometimes but six ; two 

 behind, two before, and the rest on each side. Like all other insects, their 

 eyes are immoveable; and they want eyelids; but this organ is fortified 

 tvith a transparent horny substance, which at once secures and assists their 

 vision. As the animal procures its subsistence by the most watchful atten- 

 tion, so large a number of eyes was necessary to give it the earliest informa- 

 tion of the capture of its prey. They have two pincers on the fore part of 

 the head, rough, with strong points, toothed like a saw, and terminating in 

 claws like those of a cat. A little below the point of the claw there is a 

 small hole, through which the animal emits a poifon, which, though harm- 

 less to us, is sufficiently capable of instantly destroying its prey. This is 

 the most powerful weapon they have against their enemies , they can open 

 or extend these pincers as occasion may require ; and when they are undis- 

 turbed, they suffer them to lie one upon the other, never opening them but 

 when there is a necessity for their exertion. They have all eight legs, 

 joined like those of lobsters, and similar also in another respect; for if a leg 



1 The order of Arancidcs or spiders has paipi in the iorm of small feet, terminated by o 

 little hook, the last joint bearing t^ie sexual organs i:. '.Je male ; four to six web-spinning 

 mamillae situate near the anus, and in both sexes. 



