120 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



d lately perceive and lay hold of it. This apparent 

 insensibility on the one hand, and readiness of per- 

 ception on the other, has made some philosophers 

 think the web-spiders had no eyes, bnt received in- 

 formation concerning their prey only by the tremulous 

 motion of their web. When these gentlemen further 

 consider, that what look like eyes in spiders never ap- 

 pear, when viewed with the microscope, of a reticular 

 form, as is the case in the scorpion, they more roundly 

 deny that they have any eyes. But it by no means 

 follows, from the web-spider's never leaping upon its 

 prey, or from its never running to it, unless when 

 taken in its net, that it has no eyes ; and this con- 

 clusion nmst appear yet weaker, on considering that 

 eyes are as distinctly perceivable in this kind as in the 

 jumping-spider (Salticiis scenicus ?), and withal are 

 disposed in the same manner. As to the argument 

 drawn from the parts which look like eyes in web- 

 spiders not being formed in the netted manner as in 

 other insects, it is equally unsatisfactory; for what dif- 

 ference is there between its eyes being placed singly 

 in different parts of the surface of the body, as in the 

 jumping-spider, and their being gathered into one 

 net, as in other insects ? Besides, the eyes of spiders 

 thus scattered are much larger than those which form 

 the netted eyes in other insects ; so that, every thing 

 duly considered, there is reason to affirm that spiders 

 have a more perfect sight than the generality of other 

 insects, except the dragon-fly (Libellula), which ap- 

 pears to have very large and very numerous complex 

 eyes. Thus has nature displayed her wonders, even 

 in those little animals, which at first sight appear to 

 many beneath their notice*," 



The best ascertained instance of the want of eyes 

 in insects occurs in the white-ants {Tennites) , all the 

 members of whose communities, except the males and 

 ^' Biblia Naturae, i.23. 



