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CLASS II. ARACHNIDA.* 



THE grim and solitary habits, unprepossessing 

 appearance, and blood-thirsty disposition of the ani- 

 mals we are now to consider, have made them 

 more generally the objects of fear and abhorrence 

 than any other Invertebrata. The beautiful adapta- 

 tion of means to ends, the connexion between struc- 

 ture and instincts, is marked by the same wisdom 

 and forethought, and fraught with the same inter- 

 est in these, as in all other animals ; but considered 

 in themselves, morally, if we may be allowed the ex- 

 pression, there is nothing in them that is attractive, 

 but much that is unamiable and repulsive. 



These animals were formerly considered as Insects, 

 with which great Class they were united ; but 

 they are distinguished by wide differences internal 

 and external, by characters of great importance. 

 The first great peculiarity is, that they are divided 

 into but two principal portions, the head, which 

 is distinct from the thorax in Insects, being here 

 soldered to it, so as to form one piece. They 

 have eight legs ; only smooth eyes ; no antennae ; 

 and the greater number breathe by lungs, instead 

 of air-tubes. They are the destroyers of the insect 

 , arachne, a spider, and iftof, eidos, a resemblance. 



