, ^68 INSECTS. 



Oeeping, without its burfting, or diflurbing their operations : fometimes 

 the bubble is divided into three apartments, and in the fpring the male 

 enters one of thofe to the female ; the bubble in which he was contained 

 Unites with the other, like two drops of water, when clofely approached. 

 They fpin their webs as well in the water as on land i and moft probably 

 they feed on the fmall infeiSls of both elements. 



The celebrated Tarantula deferves notice as the largeft of the 

 fpider kind known in Europe. Is native of Apuleia in Italy j its 

 body three quarters of an inch long, about as thick as one's little finger; 

 colour generally olive-brown, variegated dufky ; has eight legs and eight 

 eyes ; nippers, fharp and lerrated ; between thefc and the fore legs are 

 two little horns, or feelers, which it moves very brifkly when approach- 

 ing its prey. It is covered all over the body with a ibft down j and pro- 

 pagates by laying eggs. In the fummcr months, particularly in the 

 dog-days, the tarantula creeping among the corn, bites the mowers and 

 paffengers ; but in winter it lurks in holes, and is feldom feen. Though 

 the bite is attended with no dagnerous fymptoms, and will cafily cure of 

 itfelf, wonderful ftorics are reported concerning its virulence, which has 

 been faid to yield only to the influence of muHc and dancing. Som^e 

 have thought fuch exercife might promote perfpiration, and fa the cure ; 

 while others infift the difeafe requires no curing,, being in reality nothing 

 more than a craving for the contributions ufualiy levied on pafTengers or 

 bye-ftanders who happen to be prefent. 



THE FLEA. 



THIS infedl, the enemy of mankind, alfo of the dog, cat, and feveral 

 other animals, is found in every part of the world, but bites with 

 greater feverity in fome countries than in others. Its numbers in Italy 

 and France are much greater than in England. 



It has a fmall head, large eyes, and a roundilh body. It has two feelers, 

 or horns, fhort, compofed of four joints ; between thefe lies its trunk, 

 which it buries in the flcin, and through which it fucks blood. The bo- 

 dy is covered with a fuit of poiiihed armour neatly jointed, befet with 

 jnany (harp prickles. It has Hx legi, whof<' joints are fo adapted, that it can, 



as 



