THE SPIDER. 123 



Mutual combats Counterfeits death. 



by their fangs so fast that one of the two must 

 die before they are separated. M. Leuwenhoek 

 saw one spider that was, however, only wounded 

 in the leg by his antagonist. A drop of blood 

 as large as a grain of sand issued from the sore ; 

 and not being able to use this wounded leg in 

 running away from his enemy, he held it up, and 

 presently afterward the whole limb dropped from 

 his body. When spiders are wounded in the 

 breast or upper parts of their body, they always 

 die. 



The spider, like many insects of the beetle 

 kind, exhibit an instinct of a very extraordinary 

 nature. When put in terror by a touch of the 

 finger, the animal runs off with great swiftness ; 

 but if he find that, whatever direction he takes, 

 he is opposed by another finger, he then seems 

 to despair of being able to escape, contracts his 

 limbs and body, lies perfectly motionless, and 

 counterfeits every symptom of death. In this 

 situation Mr. Smellie has pierced them with pins, 

 and torn them to pieces, without their discovering 

 the smallest marks of pain. Some beetles, when 

 counterfeiting death, will suffer themselves to be 

 gradually roasted without moving a single joint. 

 As soon as the object of terror is removed, the 

 spider runs off with great rapidity, therefore this 

 simulation is mere artifice, and no convulsion or 

 sudden stupor, as has been supposed. 



The spider changes its skin at certain seasons, 

 at which time an opening may be seen, if care* 



a 



