SPI 
which this creature forms the threads of it's little 
liet; the orifices of the five teats, through which 
the thread is drawn, contrafting or dilating at 
pleafure. The threads which we fee, and which 
appear fo fine, are, notwithftanding, compofed of 
five joined together; and thefe are repeatedly dou- 
bled when the web is in formation. 
When a houfe or common Spider is about to 
form a web, it firft feledls fome commodious fpot 
■where there is an appearance of plenty and fccu- 
rity. The animal then diftils a fmall drop of it's 
glutinous liquor, which is very tenacious; and 
then creeping up the wall, and joining it's thread 
as it proceeds, darts itfelf in a very furprifing man- 
ner to the oppofite ftation where the other end of 
the web is to be faftened. The firft thread thus 
fpun, drawn tight, and fixed at each end, the Spi- 
der runs on it, backward and forward, ftill affi- 
duoufly employed in doubling and ftrengthening 
it, as on it's force depends the ftrength and ftabi- 
lity of the whole. The fcaffolding being com- 
pleated, the Spider draws a number of threads pa- 
rallel to the firft, in the fame manner; and then 
crofTes them with others ; the clammy fubftance 
of which they are formed ferving to bind them to- 
gether when newly fpun. 
After this operation, the infed doubles and tre- 
bles the thread that borders it's web, by opening 
all it's teats at once; and fo fecures the edges as 
to prevent the wind from difplacing the work. 
The edges being thus fortified, the retreat is next 
to be attended to ; and this is formed like a fun- 
nel at the bottom of the web, where the little crea- 
ture lies concealed. To this there are two paf- 
fages or outlets, one above, and the other be- 
low, very artfully contrived, to allow the animal 
an opportunity of making excurfions at proper 
feafons, of examining every corner, and cleaning 
thofe parts which appear foiled or encumbered. 
Still attentive to it's web, the Spider from time to 
time removes the dirt that gathers round it, which 
might otherwife clog and incommode it: to efi^edt 
this, it gives the whole a fhake with it's paws; 
ftill, however, proportioning the fhock to the fub- 
ftance and ftrength of the fabric. It often hap- 
pens alfo, that from the main web there are feve- 
ral threads extended at fome diftance on each 
fide: thefe may be confidered as the outworks of 
the fortification ; which, whenever touched from 
•without, the Spider prepares for attack or felf- 
defence; If the infedt impinging happens to be 
a fly, it fprings forward with great agility ; but if, 
on the contrary, fome enemy ftronger than itfelf, 
it then keeps within it's fortrefs, and never ven- 
tures out till the danger is paft. 
Another advantage which the Spider reaps 
from this contrivance of a cell behind the web, 
confifts in it's ferving as a retreat where the crea- 
ture can feaft on it's game with fafety, and con- 
ceal the fragments of thofe carcafes which it has 
picked, without expofing to public view the leaft 
trace of barbarity that might put other prey on 
it's guard. However, it is not very uncommon 
for a blaft of wind, or fome other accidental vio- 
lence, to deftroy in one minute the labours of a 
Spider's life. In this calamity, the haplefs infeft 
is obliged to remain a patient fpeftator of the uni- 
verfal ruin; and, when the danger is over, to fet 
about repairing the devaftation. For this pur- 
pofe it is provided with a large ftore of that glu- 
tinous fubftance of which the web is compofed; 
and with this it either makes a new web, or re- 
S P I 
pairs the old one. In general, however, the Spi- 
der is more folicitous to mend than make ; as it is 
originally furniftied with only a certain quantity 
of glutinous matter, which, when exhaufted, no- 
thing can renew; and it is then abandoned to all 
the chances of irre trievable neceflity. An old Spi- 
der is thus frequently reduced to the greateft ex- 
tremity; it's v/eb is deftroyed, and itfelf wholly un- 
provided with materials for conftru6ting a new 
one. But as thefe animals are habituated to a 
life of fhift, it hunts about for the web of another 
creature of it's own fpccies, younger and feebler 
than itfelf, with which it hazards a battle: the 
invader generally comes ofi^ fuccefsful; the young 
one is driven out to make a new web for itlelf; 
and the old one remains in quiet poffefiion. If, 
however, the Spider is unable to difpofTefs any 
other of it's web, it then endeavours to fubfifton 
accidental depredations, but in a very fliort time 
infallibly dies through hunger. 
The Garden-Spider feems to work in a diffe- 
rent manner. It fpins a large quantity of thread, 
which floating in the air in various direftions, 
happens, from it's glutinous quality, at laft to ad- 
here to fome objeft near it, a lofty phint, or the 
branch of a tree. The Spider is anxious to hav& 
one end of the line fixed, that it may be enabled 
to fecure and tighten the other: it accordingly 
draws the line when thus fixed; and then, by 
pairing and repairing on it, ftrengthens the thread 
in fuch a manner as to anfwer all it's intentions. 
The firft cord being thus ftretched, the Spider^ 
walks along a part of it, and there faftens another; 
and dropping from thence, affixes the thread to 
fome folid body below; then climbs up again, and 
begins a third, which it faftens by a fimilar con- 
trivance. When three threads are thus fixed, it 
forms a figure fomewhat refembling a fquare; and 
in this the animal is generally found to refide. 
It often happens, however, when the young Spi- 
der begins fpinning, that it's web becomes too 
buoyant; and not only the thread floats in the 
air, but the fpinfter alfo. 
The Spider's web being compleated, and fixed 
in a proper place, it's next care is to feize and fe- 
cure whatever infefts happen to be caught in the 
toil. With this view it fometimes remains on the 
watch for weeks, and even months, without ever 
catching a fingle fly; for the Spider, like moft 
other infects, is furprifingly patient of hunger. 
It fometimes happens that too ftrong a fly ftrikes 
againft the web; and thus, inftead of being caught, 
tears it to pieces. But in general the butterfly, 
or the hornet, when they touch the web, fly off 
again ; and the Spider feems no ways difpofed to 
interrupt their retreat. The large blue-bottle 
fly, the ichneumon fly, and the common meat-fly, 
feem to be it's favourite game: when one of thefe 
ftrike into che toils, the Spider is inftantly fcen aC 
the mouth of his hole, carefully obferving whe- 
ther the fly be ccmpleatly immeflied; and if fo, 
he advances quietly forward, feizes his prey, and 
prefentlv kills it by infufing a venomous fluid into 
the wound he infiids. But if the fly be not 
wholly entangled, the Spider waits patiently, with- 
out appearing in fight, till it is tired out with in- 
efi^eftual attempts to regain it's liberty ; for if the 
ravager ftiould appear in all his terrors while the 
fly is but half involved, one defperate effort v/ould 
probably enable it to get free. If the Spider is 
ftimulated by hunger, he drags the fly immediately 
into his cell, and devours it; but if there has been 
plenty 
