794 ARACHNIDES—SPIDER. 
or stone, as he had seen the Indians practise before nim, untu the flesh be- 
came insensible. Seba, Moore, ana 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 SPIDER! 

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 eachside. 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 ofa cat. A little below the point of the claw there isa 
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 


_1 The order of Araneides or spiders has paip1 in the torm of small feet, terminated by 8 
little hook, the last joint bearing the sexual organs i:. <.4e male; four to six web-spinning 
Mamillz situate near the anus, and in both sexes. 
