34 PL ACTS eee 
common to the family, is apparent in all. Our domeftic Spiders are 
plain in their colours, and feldom attain a very extraordinary fize 5 
the gardens are infefted by fpecies fomewhat larger, and more lively 
-n their marks and teints, but if we with to trace the juft gradations 
of the beauty, or fize, of thofe deteftable creatures, the forefts abound ; 
and will afford the higheft gratification to the enquiries of the naturalift. 
We have Spiders purely white, or white {tained with a lovely green; 
yellow, marked with a vivid red; purples fhaded with the richeft hues, 
and the brighteft browns, befpangled with the utmoft elegance and 
fymmetry : Yet under thofe rich adornments which nature has fo pro- 
fufely beftowed on this complication of beauty, and ferocity, we dif- 
cover inherent qualities, which, in larger animals, would become 
formidable, and though we feel confident of our fuperiority over the 
infidious art of fuch a contemptible creature, yet the mind is fufcepti- 
ble of an inward abhorrence at its touch, which neither the expanfion 
of philofophy, or ignorance of its difpofition, will fometimes fupprefs. 
It is probable, that Thomfon, in his defcription of the Spider, felt this 
fympathy of the human mind, 
a To heedlefs flies the window proves 
A conftant death ; where, gloomily retired, 
The villain Spider lives, cunning and fierce, 
Mixture abhorr’d ! Amid a mangled heap 
Of carcafes, in eager watch he fits, 
O’er-looking all his waving fnares around. 
Wear the dire cell, the dreadlefs wanderer oft 
Paffes, as oft the rufian fhews his front ; 
The prey at laft enfnar’d, he dreadful darts 
With rapid glide along the leaning line; 
And fixing in the wretch his cruel fangs, 
Strikes backward grimly pleas’d: the flutt'ring wing, 
And fhriller found declare extreme diftrefs, 
And afk the helping hofpitable hand.” : 
#y 
2 
Pert at i e fir i in i 
Early fs the {pring we find the nefts of Spiders in the crevices 
of oli walis, trees, and other obfcure places. 
i ; They are enclofed in 
2 a white. vello : 1 : : 
webs of a white, yellow, or grey colour, varying according to the 
fpecies; 
