Ml CROSCOPIC AL 



Essays. 



paffes before it ; and on each fide a couple more, one whereof 

 points fideways forward, the other fideways backward ; fo that it 

 can fee almoft all round it. They are immoveable, and feem to 

 be formed of a hard, tranfparent, horny fubftance. The number 

 of eyes is not the fame in all the fpecies of the fpider. They 

 have eight legs, with fix joints, thickly befet with hairs, and ter- 

 minating in two crooked moveable claws, which have little teeth 

 like a faw ; at a fmall diftance from thefe claws, but placed high- 

 er up, is another, fomewhat like a cock's fpur, by the affiftance of 

 which it adheres to it's webs; but the weapon wherewith it 

 feizes and kills it's prey is a pair of (harp crooked claws, or for- 

 ceps, placed in the fore-part of the head. They can open or 

 extend thefe pincers as occafion may require ; when undifturbed, 

 they fufTer them to lie one upon another. Mr. Leeuwenhoeck 

 fays, that each of thefe claws has a fmall aperture, or flit a 

 through which he fuppofes a poifonous juice is injecled into the 

 wound it makes* 



The exuvia of the fpider, which may be found in cobwebs s 

 being tranfparent, is an excellent object ; and the fangs, or for- 

 ceps^ may be eafier feparated from it, and examined with more 

 exaclnefs than in a living fpider. The contexture of the fpider's 

 web, and their manner of weaving them, have been difcovered 

 by the microfcope. The fpider is fup plied with a large quantity of 

 glutinous matter within it's body, and five dugs, or teats, for 

 fpinning it into thread. This fubftance, when examined 

 accurately, will be found twifted into many coils, of an agate 

 t colour, and which, from it's tenacity, may be eafily drawn out 

 into threads. The five teats are placed near the extremity of the 

 tail ; from thefe the aforefaid fubftance proceeds ; . it adheres to 



any 



