SPIDERS. 



295 



calculated tliat it would require four millions of them to be 

 as thick as a hair of his beard. 



Another important advantage derived by the spider from 

 the multiplicity of its thread! ets is, that the thread affords 



A single thread of a Spider, greatly masniflpd, so that, for the small space represented, 

 the lines are shown as parallel. 



a much more secure attachment to a wall, a branch of a 

 tree, or any other object, than if it were simple ; for, upon 

 pressing the spinneret against the object, as spiders always 

 do when they fix a thread, the spinnerules are extended 



Attached end of a Spider's thread magnified. 



over an area of some diameter, from every hair's-breadth of 

 which a strand^ as rope-makers term it, is extended to com- 



