794 ARACHNIDES— SPIDER. 



or stone, as he had seen the Indians practise before mm. until the flesh be- 

 came insensible. Seba, Moore, and Bosman, however, give a very differ- 

 ent account of the scorpion's malignity ; and assert that, unless speedily 

 relieved, the wound becomes fatal. 



It is certain that no animal in the creation seems endued with such an 

 irascible nature 



THE SPIDERi 



Has two divisions in its body. The fore part, containing the head and 

 breast, is separated from the hinder part or belly by a very slender thread, 

 through which, however, there is a communication from one part to the 

 other. The fore part is covered with a hard shell, as well as the legs, which 

 adhere to the breast. The hinder part is clothed with a supple skin, beset 

 all over with hair. They have several eyes all round the head, brilliant and 

 acute ; these are sometimes eight in number, sometimes but six ; two 

 behind, two before, and the rest on each side. Like all other insects, their 

 eyes are immoveable; and they want eyelids; but this organ is fortified 

 with a transparent horny substance, which at once secures and assists their 

 vision. As the animal procures its subsistence by the most watchful atten- 

 tion, so large a number of eyes was necessary to give it the earliest informa- 

 tion of the capture of its prey. They have two pincers on the fore part of 

 the head, rough, with strong points, toothed like a saw, and terminating in 

 claws like those of a cat. A little below the point of the claw there is a 

 small hole, through which the animal emits a poison, which, though harm- 

 less to us, is sufficiently capable of instantly destroying its prey. This is 

 the most powerful weapon they have against their enemies ; they can open 

 or extend these pincers as occasion may require ; and when they are undis- 

 turbed, they suffer them to lie one upon the other, never opening them but 

 when there is a necessity for their exertion. They have all eight legs, 

 joined like those of lobsters, and similar also in another respect ; for if a leg 



' The order of Araneides or spiders has paipi in the torm of small feet, terminated hj' a 

 little hook, the last joint bearing t^e sexual orgTins i:. :.Je male; four to six web-spinning' 

 mamillae situate near the anus, and in both sexes. 



