274 THEPHILOSOPHY 



ting tortures ; and, when they were removed, Ihe uttered the 

 mod dolorous cries. Certain fpecies of fpiders inclofe their eggs 

 in a filken bag fpun and wove by themfelves. This bag they fix 

 to their back, and carry it along with them wherever they go. 

 They are extremely nimble in their motions. But, when the bag 

 is forced from a fpider of this kind, her natural agility forfakes 

 her, and flie falls into a languid ftate. When the bag is again pre- 

 fented to her, fhe inftantly feizes it, and carries it ofF with rapidity. 

 The young fpiders no fooner efcape from the eggs than they dex- 

 teroufly arrange themfelves on the back of the mother, who conti- 

 nues for fome time to carry them about with her, and to fupply all 

 their wants. Another fpecies of fpider attaches her bag of eggs to 

 her belly. This fpider is likewife very agile, and fo ferocious and 

 determined in the protedion of her eggs, that fhe has been known 

 to fuffer death rather than relinquifh them. The deer fpontaneoufly 

 prefents herfelf to be chaced by the dogs, to prevent them from at- 

 tacking her fawn. When the fox perceives that her young have 

 been difturbed in her abfence, fhe carries them off, one after another, 

 and conceals them in a new retreat. Wafps feed their young, when 

 in the worm or caterpillar ftate, in the fame manner as pigeons and 

 other birds that difgorge. The pigeon, after fwallowing grain, re- 

 tains it for fome time in her flomach, till it is foftened and mace- 

 rated : She then difgorges, and throws it into the mouths of her 

 young. ' In the fame manner,' fays Reaumur, ' I have obferved a 

 * female wafp fwal.'ow a large portion of an infed : In a fhort time 

 ' afterwards, fhe traverfed the different cells of her neft, difgorged 

 ' the contents of her floinach, and diftributed food in this half di- 

 ' gefted form to her young worms *.' 



All animals, man perhaps not excepted, acquire a double portion 

 of force and courage after they bring forth. A cow, at leaft in a 



domeflic 



* Reaumur, torn. ii. pag. 230. izmoedit. 



