OF LA PEROUSE. 257 



a little inclined towards the fouth-eaft, in order 

 that the prevailing winds may have lefs hold of 

 its little habitation. The rain runs off this fort 

 of cone, without being able to penetrate it, and 

 cannot weigh it down, becaufe it is diftended on 

 all fides by threads attached to the neighbouring 

 branches. The fpider, perfectly fheltered in this 

 houfe, comes out of it only to feize upon the 

 infects which happen to entangle' themfelves in 

 his nets. 



Another fpider, which does not fpin fo dexte- 

 roufly as the former, fecures itfelf from the rain 

 by g e K m g under part of a leaf that is bent in 

 nearly a conical form, and is placed in the mid- 

 dle of its web : every thing is combined to give 

 folidity to this dwelling : the corner being a little 

 inclined, is oppofed to the fouth-eaft winds, in 

 order that it may fuffer lefs from their violence. 



Nature has been extremely bountiful to fome 

 other fpecies of fpiders, which are covered with a 

 fkin that is very tough, and as glofly as if they 

 were coated with the finert varnifh. Thefe laft 

 are not in the leaft affected by the heavy rains to 

 which they are constantly expofed, and they vva it 

 patiently in the middle of their web, till fome in- 

 fect: is caught in it. 



Among thefe fpiders I difcovered fome whofe 

 body was terminated in a point, the aranea acuh- 

 ata and the aranea ffinofa, 



vol, 1. s Leigh's 



