266 . .INSECTS. 



pr outlets, one above, the other below ; contrived to permit excurfions, 

 at proper feafons, for prying into every corner, and cleaning parts which 

 are clogged or encumbered. Ever attentive to its web, the fpidcr, from 

 time to time, cleans away duft that gathers round it, giving the whole a 

 fhake with its paws j but not to endanger the fabric. Whenever this 

 web is touched, the fpider prepares for attack or defence. If the infe£t 

 impinging be a fly, it fprings forward with great agility ; if it be an ene- 

 my ftronger than itfelf, it keeps within its fortrefs till the danger be over. 

 This retreat alfo ferves for a place where the creature can feaft upon its 

 game in fafety. Often the labours of an age are deftroyed in a minute, 

 and the fpider is obliged to remain fpeftator of univerfal ruin. Of the 

 glutinous fubftance of which the web is made, in this calamity, it either 

 ipakcs a new web, or patches up the old one. There is originally but a 

 certain quantity of this matter, which, when exhaufted, nothing can re- 

 new. When this refervoir is dried up, the animal is left to the chances 

 of neceffity. An old fpider is thus frequently reduced to the greatefl ex- 

 tremity J it hunts about for the web of another, younger and weaker, 

 which is driven out to make a new web, and the old one remains in pof- 

 feflion of its labours. If unable to acquire a web, it endeavours for a 

 "while to fubfift on accidental depredation ; but in two or three months in- 

 evitably dies of hunger. 



The Garden-Spider fpins a great quantity of thread, which floating 

 in the air in various direcftions, from its glutinous quality, at laft flicks to 

 fpme obje6t, a lofty plant or the branch of a tree. The fpider draws the 

 line thus fixed, and pafllng and repafllng on it, (Irengthens the thread. 

 From the firft cord the fpider faftens another, dropping from thence tq 

 fome folid body l^elow, then climbs up again and begins a third, which 

 it fallens by the fame contrivance, and fo on. When the young fpider be- 

 gins fpinning, its web is buoyant, and not only the thread floats in the 

 air, but the little fpinfter is fupported by its buoyancy. 



A fpider fometimes remains weeks or months watching without catch* 

 ing a ftngle fly, and is furprifingly patient of hunger. The butterfly, or 

 the hornet, when they touch the web, fly off again, and the fpider feems 

 not difpleafed at their retreat. The large blue-bottle-fly, the ichneumon-, 

 fly, and the common meat-fly, fecm to be its favourite game. When 

 one of thefe (Irikes into the toils, the fpider is inftantly feen alert and 

 watchful at the mouth of its hole, obfcrving whether the fly be com- 

 pletely immeflied. If he be, the fpider walks leifurely forward, feizes its 

 prey, and inftaptly kills it by inllilling a venomous juice into the wound, 



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