5^0 THE SPIDER. 



fpider have thus met, it is afferted by tiie mod accurate 

 obfervers, that the extremitj of the claws of the former 

 opens, hy a kind of fpring, and lets out a white fubflance, 

 ■which he applies beneath the abdomen of the female, and 

 thus accomplifties the great purpofe of nature f . 



In this country, where all t!)e infe<5l tribes are kept 

 under by the coldaefs of the climate, or by human affi- 

 duity, the fplders are fmall in fize, and comparatively 

 few in number : Here, they are an InoiFenfive, as well as 

 a humble tribe ; but in the warmer regions of Africa 

 and America, they are hideous and terrible. There, the 

 fpiders, as well as all the infedl tribe, acquire a fize and 

 A vigour, which to the inhabitants of the north of Eu- 

 rope muii appear incredible. The abdomen of the Mar- 

 tinico fpider is as large as a hen's egg, and covered all 

 ever with hair: Its web is ftrong ; and its bite is danger- 

 ous. Happy it is for us, that we are placed at fuch a 

 diftance from thefe animals, that we can lludy their 

 hiftory without dreading their refentment. 



The eyes are placed all around the head; they are im- 

 moveable, and dellitute of eyelids, but are fortified with 

 a tranfparent hornj' fubilance, which at once prote6ls and 

 affirts their vifion. A number of eyes fo unufual among 

 the reft of animated beings, feems to have been deemed 

 receflary to an infecl deflined to procure its fupport by 

 ihemoft watchful attention. The mouth of the fpider is 

 equally fitted for his occupation : It confifts oi two fer- 

 ratcd pincers, which fpring from the forehead, and ter- 

 minate like the claws of a cat. A little below the point 

 of the claw there is a fmall hole, through which the ani- 

 mal 



I I.yonnet and Lifkr, 



