4 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS : 



through the pores at the end of which the secretion escapes in 

 threads of extreme fineness, thousands of which are united to 

 form a single strong thread, as used in the web. 



The spiders are all oviparous, and a single impregnation is 

 sufficient for several successive generations. The eggs are numer- 

 ous, and are usually enclosed by the female in a silken bag which 

 she carries about with her, or hides in her nest, or in some cases 

 attaches to stones, plants, etc. The young, when hatched, 

 resemble their parents in form, but they cannot spin nor capture 

 prey till after the first moult. 



Spiders are found in every habitable portion of the globe, but 

 are larger and more abundant in warm climates. The males and 

 females live separately, and the latter are more frequently seen and 

 are considerably the larger. All are carnivorous, devouring living 

 prey, chiefly insects and other arthropods, sucking the juices and 

 sometimes swallowing the fragments. The, females are generally 

 ready to attack and feed on the males, even in the reproductive 

 season, and both sexes are fond of fighting, the vanquished being 

 devoured. They can support long fasts and remain torpid during 

 the winter. In making their webs, they accommodate themselves 

 remarkably to circumstances, displaying great perseverance, inge- 

 nuity, and intelligence. They carefully guard their eggs and are 

 affectionate to their young, which in some cases devour their 

 mother. 



The webs sometimes form nets for the capture of prey, and 

 sometimes they are used partially or wholly as dwelling-places. 

 They descend by their silken threads head downwards, but climb 

 upon them head upwards, rolling the threads into a bundle during 

 the ascent. The thread cannot be used for the same purpose a 

 second time. When they wish to go from tree to tree, some let 

 go a thread in the direction of the wind, and when it has reached 

 the object they strengthen it, and pass over occasionally in this 

 way, travelling long distances without descending to the ground. 

 Young spiders of several families frequently float in the air, sup- 

 ported by a few threads of silk. 



They are capable of some domestication. Pelisson, a prisoner 

 in the Bastille, had a pet spider, which came regularly at the 

 sound of a musical instrument to get its meal of flies. In former 



