EESEARCHES UPON SPIDERS. 53 • 



PAUT FIRST. 



SPIDERS' SILK. 



-In the years 1777 and 1778 I published^ two 

 memoirs upon the silk of spiders, setting forth briefly the 

 experiments made by me, both in America, where I passed 

 many years of my youth, and ia Italy, where I afterward 

 lived, as to what profit can be derived from these insects 

 which we consider disgusting and even venomous ; propaga- 

 ting them by the easy method which I taught, and drawing 

 from their multiplied cocoons, either by spinning or by card- 

 ing them, and even from their living bodies, the finest silk, shin- 

 ing and abundant. I know that it now appears and will, 

 perhaps, still appear a paradox to say that greater profit 

 can be drawn from spiders than from silk- worms ; but who- 

 ever has read my above mentioned memoirs, and shall also 

 read this, will be persuaded of it, and if he wishes to make 

 a trial of it, using the care and methods prescribed by me, 

 he will be convinced by the fact. 



And, first of all, I see the necessity of refuting 

 the general opinion based chiefly upon the authority 

 of Reaumur, who, having made researches upon this very 

 subject, while he admits that from the cocoons of the spider 

 a considerable product may be obtained in silk both fine 

 and coarse, finds so much difficulty and so many obstacles 

 that he considers as futile the attempt to make use of 

 it.* The authority of the French entomologist is cer- 

 tainly of great weight and I, as well as others, have always 

 admired his sagacity and diligence in studying the nature 

 and habits of insects, and the good or harm which they do 

 or of which they are capable ; but I shall not, I hope, » be 

 considered at fault if, having, by researches and experi- 



1 . Selection of interesting pamphlets, Vol. iii, page 288, and selected 

 pamphlets, Vol. i, page 49. 



a. Ee'aumur's report upon this subject may be found in the Memoibs 

 OF THE Fkench Academt for 1710, and a synopsis of hie conclusions and 

 those of Le Bon is contained in the Encyclopedia Bkitannica, article 

 Araclmida, and in Laednee's Cabinet Cyclopedia or tseful aetb. 

 ^(7^- manufacture. Both of them erred, through zeal, ia their calculations, so 

 that neither is reliable, far less so certainly than our author. [Reviser.] 



communications ESSEX INST. VOL. V. 8. JULY 25, 1866. 



