On North American Spiders. 121 
webs, several yards long, which waved in the breeze, diverging from 
each other like a pencil of rays: one had two disfinct and widely di- 
verging fasciculi of webs, so that a line uniting them, would have 
been at right angles to the direction of the breeze.’ Now such di- 
vergence in these fasciculi of fibres is utterly inexplicable, except on 
the supposition of their being invested with electricity ; and they find 
a beautiful analogy in the divergence that ensues, in the fibres of a 
glass plume affixed to the conductor of an electrical machine, when 
in action.” . 
“On board the ‘Royal Adelaide’ of 120 guns, then in ordinary at 
Devonport, they were annoyed with small spiders alighting on the 
ship, with a dry easterly wind.’ ‘Three aéronautic spiders were al- 
lowed to ascend from the same spot, when it was observed that each 
one moved in a different direction. Clouds afterwards collected and 
obscured the sky, and then our attempts to favor their ascent were 
unavailing; not one succeeded, and all fell like lead to the ground.’ ” 
This electric theory is certainly ingenious, and not improbable; 
indeed it is certain that the suspended threads cannot remain unelec- 
trified, and that both attraction and repulsion must ensue, but still 
the difficult question occurs—why does the repulsion, or repulsion 
and attraction combined, tend so frequently to project the thread up- 
ward or in any other given direction, correspondent with its length ; 
We should look for the principal effect of attraction and repulsion to 
® exerted in a lateral direction, and this would not tend to project 
the thread, but rather to bend or turn it as the forces prevailed on 
the one side or the other ; if it could be shown that prevailing elec- 
ne attractions are exerted from above downward, or repulsions from 
elow upward, the ascent of the web or fibre would be accounted for, 
wnd so of any other direction. In the English Magazine of Natural 
History, for the last two years, there is a protracted discussion be- 
tween Mr, Murray and Mr. Blackwall, on the electricity of the spi- 
der’s, and the subject appears to be involved in a degree of obscurity, 
‘ * * % % % * * 
Poss odious and disgusting as they are, have been petted ; 
lar} #s tamed by a prisoner in the Bastile, and made oe Tega 
Y &t the sound of a musical instrument to receive his repast of 
S$ another man, also a prisoner, tamed eight hundred of them, 
Whi ; 
* he kept in one apartment, and they too were accustomed to as- 
ot. IL—No, 1, 16 
