ARACHNIDES—SPIDER. 795 
be torn away, or a joint cut off, anew one will quickly grow in its place, 
and the animal will find itself fitted for combat as before. At the end of 
each leg there are three crooked moveable claws; namely, a small one, 
placed higher up, like a cock’s spur, by the assistance of which it adheres to 
the threads of its web. There are two others larger, which meet together 
like a lobster’s claw, by which they can catch hold of the smallest depres- 
sions, walking up or down very polished surfaces, on which they can find 
inequalities that are imperceptible to our grosser sight. But when they 
walk upon such bodies as are perfectly smooth, as looking glass or polished 
marble, they squeeze a little sponge, which grows near the extremity of 
their claws, and thus diffusing a glutinous substance, adhere to the surface 
until they make a second step. Besides the eight legs just mentioned, these 
animals have two others, which may more properly be called arms, as they 
do not serve to assist motion, but are used in holding and managing their 
prey. 
The spider, though thus formidably equipped, would seldom prove suc- 
cessful in the capture, were it not equally furnished with other instruments 
to assist its depredations. It is a most experienced hunter, and spreads its 
nets to catch such animals as it is unable to pursue. The spider’s web is 
generally laid in those places where flies are most apt to shelter. There 
the little animal remains for days, nay, weeks together, in patient expecta- 
tion, seldom changing its situation though ever so unsuccessful. 
For the purposes of making this web, nature has supplied this animal 
with a large quantity of glutinous matter, and five dugs or teats for spinning 
it into thread. This substance is contained in a little bag, and at first sight 
resembles soft glue; but when examined more accurately, it will be found 
twisted into many coils of an agate color, and upon breaking it, the contents 
may easily be drawn out into threads, from the tenacity of the substance, 
not from those threads being already formed. Those who have seen the 
machine by which wire is spun, will have an idea of the manner in which 
this animal forms the threads of its little net, the orifices of the five teats 
above mentiuned, through which the thread is drawn, contracting or dilating 
at pleasure. The threads which we see, and appear so fine, are, notwith- 
standing, composed of five joined together, and these are many times doubled 
when the web is in formation. 
When a house spider proposes to begin a web, it first makes choice of 
some commodious spot, where there is an appearance of plunder an secu- 
rity. The animal then distils one little drop of its glutinous liquor, which is 
very tenacious, and then creeping up the wall, and joining its threads as it 
proceeds, it darts itself in a very surprising manner to the opposite place, 
where the other end of the web is to be fastened. The first thread thus 
formed, drawn tight, and fixed at each end, the spider then runs upon it 
backward and forward, still assiduously employed in doubling and strengthen- 
ing it, as uponits force depend the strength and stability of the whole. The 
