51 



of reservoir ; the two branching canals proceeding 

 from it. 



It was before observed, that the tip of each teat 

 may give passage to above a thousand threads. And 

 yet the size of the teat in the largest spider does not 

 exceed a small pin's head. But the smallest spiders 

 no . sooner quit their eggs than they begin to spin. 

 Indeed their threads can scarce be perceived, but the web 

 formed thereof is as thick and close as any. And no 

 wonder, as four or five hundred little spiders often 

 concur in the same work. How minute are their 

 teats ! When perhaps the whole spider is less than 

 thereat of its parent. Each parent lays four or five 

 hundred eggs, all wrapt up in a bag. And as soon as 

 the young ones have broken through the bag, they 

 begin to spin. 



And even this is not the utmost which nature does. 

 There are some kind of spiders so small, as not to be 

 discerned without a microscope. And yet there are 

 webs found under them I What must be the fineness 

 of these threads ? To one of these the finest hair is 

 as a cart-rope. 



There are several species of spiders that fly, and 

 that to a surprising height. " The last October, 

 says an eminent writer, I took notice that the air was 

 very full of webs. I forthwith mounted to the top 

 of the highest steeple on the minster [in York] and 

 could thence discern them yet exceeding high above 

 me. Some of the spiders that fell upon the pinnacles 

 1 took, and found tlu>m to be of a kind, which sel- 

 dom or never enter house, and cannot be supposed, 

 to have taken their flight from the steeple. 



There are divers animals as well as spiders, that 

 .have some way of conveyance, utterly unknown to 

 us. Thus the animals on the standing waters, so nu. 

 merous as often to discolour them, and tinge them 

 red, yellow, or green. That these have some way of 

 conveyance is certain, because not only most stag- 

 nating waters are stocked with them, yea, not only 

 new pits and pouds, but even holes, and gutters on 



