The Structure and Habits of Spiders. 35 



v 



mented on flies, which died in a few minutes 

 after being bitten. 



Mr. Blackwall, to test the poison of spiders, 

 made several large ones bite his hand and arm, 

 and at the same time pricked himself with a 

 needle. Although the spiders bit deep enough 

 to draw blood, the effect of their bite was 

 exactly like that of the prick of the needle. 

 No inflammation or pain followed, and both 

 healed immediately. 



Several spiders were placed together, and 

 made to bite one another. The bitten ones 

 lived always some hours, and died from loss of 

 blood ; and one spider, that had been bitten in 

 the abdomen so that some of the liver escaped 

 and dried on the outside, lived over a year, 

 apparently in good health. 



A large spider was made to bite a wasp near 

 the base of the right front-wing, so as to dis- 

 able it ; but it lived thirteen hours. 



A bee was bitten by a large spider, but lived 

 three days. 



A grasshopper was bitten, and held in the 

 jaws of a spider for several seconds ; but it 

 lived in apparent health for two days. 



