APPENDIX. 



(FROM GOLDSMITH'S ANIMATED NATURE") 



CHAPTER I. 



THIS SPIDER ZUmX 



Among insects without wings, the spider is worthy of particii 

 lar notice, its manners being of all others the most subtle, ano 

 its instincts the most various. Formed for a life of rapacity 

 and incapable of living upon any other than insect food, all its 

 habits are calculated to deceive and surprise : it spreads toils to 

 entangle its prey, it is endued with patience to expect its coming 

 and is possessed of arms and strength to destroy it when fallen 

 into the snare. 



In this country, where all the insect tribes are kept under by 

 human assiduity, the spiders are but small and harmless. We 

 are acquainted with few but the House Spider, which weaves 

 its web in neglected rooms ; the Garden Spider, that spreads 

 its toils from tree to tree, and rests in the centre; the Wander- 

 ing Spider, that has no abode like the rest; and the Field 

 Spider, that is sometimes seen mounting, web and all, into the 

 clouds. These are the chief of our native spiders, which, though 

 reputed venomous, are entirely inoffensive. But they form a 

 much more terrible tribe in Africa and America. In those re- 

 gions, where all the insect species acquire their greatest growth, 

 where the butterfly is seen to expand a wing as broad as our 

 sparrow, and the ant to build a habitation as tall as a man, it 

 is not to be wondered at that the spiders are seen bearing a pro- 

 portionable magnitude. In fact, the bottom of the Martinico 

 spider's body is as large as a hen's egg, and covered all over 

 with hair. Its web is strong, and its bite dangerous. It is happy 

 for us, however, that we are placed at a distance from these for- 

 midable creatures, and that we can examine their history with- 

 out feeling their resentment. 



Every 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 communication from one part to the other. The fore part 

 is covered with a hard shell, as well as the legs which adhere to 



