T H £ 



BIRD-CATCHING SPIDER. 



Generic Character. 



Eight Legs, 



Eight Eyes. 



Mouth furnifhed with 2 hooks or holders. 



Two jointed Palpi or Feelers, the tips of which 



(in the males) diftinguifh the fex. 

 The Abdomen terminated by papillae, or teats, 



through which the Infeft draws its thread. 



Specific Character. 



SPIDER with orbicular convex thorax with a 



tranfverfe central excavation. 



Lin. Syjl. Nat. p. 1034. 

 Mer. Surin. tab. 18. 



The common Spiders of Europe are frequently be- 

 held with horror and averiion by thofe who have not 

 accuftomed themfelves to an attentive furvey of the 

 works of nature; but what are thefe when compared 

 with the terrific magnitude of the gigantic fpecies here 

 exhibited ! A fpecies which is formidable not only to 

 other infedls, but even to birds themfelves,- whofe 

 fangs are equal in fize to the talons of a hawk, and 



whofe 



