( 3 ' ) 
ftruments. Thefe males have fmaller thoraxes, but longer legs than the females. The fight 
of their amours is extremely entertaining. Both meet upon their webs, circumfpe6l, and 
with meafured fteps, they ftretch out their legs, fhake the web gently, and touch each other 
with the tips of their feet, as if afraid of each other’s motion. Sometimes they precipitate 
themfelves through fear, and hang pendulous for a while by their thread ; then taking courage 
again, they afcend, and continue their preludes. After having felt and handled one another 
a long time, they both approach nearer, with equal caution, and begin to be fomewhat more 
familiar. They now touch each other with greater freedom and boldnefs, all fear is at an 
end, and both being prepared, one of the nodules of the male’s arms opens, as if by a fpring, 
and difplays a white body : the arm incui*vated and applied to the abdomen of the female, 
below the thorax, completes the intention of nature. Were it not known, that Spiders^ on 
all other occafions except this, are in a flate of warfare with each other, we might, not with- 
out reafon, be aftoniflied at this ftrange mode of condu6ting their amours. But when we con- 
fider this circumftance, it appears to be nothing more than a laudable and proper caution 
and referve in a matter, in which their lives might be fometimes in danger, and as a warning 
againft ralh adventures.” 
The two lower eyes In the middle of the forehead, are a little lefs than the two upper ones: 
the hinder fide-eyes are alfo lefs than the anterior, and joined. The fize and fituation are 
reprefented at letter G. The legs are hairy, with dark fibulae, and black prickles. The tho- 
rax ovate, blackidi, fomewhat tenderer, and carinated towards the lower part, and wider, and 
flattened towards the abdomen. It is fcarce befet with any down, or at lead: extremely thin. 
The abdomen fomewhat hollowed, more or lefs blackifli, and marked on the fides with brighter 
fpots, more or lefs undulated, abounds with white down, efpecially towards the anus. The 
arms of the male, as reprefented at fig. 3, as feen by the microfeope. A. reprefents the laft 
joint of the arm, all over hairy on the outer fide; on the interior a little concave. F. fhews 
the cell, or large hollow, in which the male organ is generally feated. B. and C. are the in- 
ftruments, which, at the time of union, are bent and opened, and which impregnate the fe- 
male. At that time, C. feparates from B. and together with C. embraces the fmall whitifh 
tube of the female, and enters or conceals itfelf within it. B. is black at the extremity, and 
infle6ted like a horn, and coheres as if by a ligament to the exterior part of A. befides the in- 
terior jun6ture. B. is, with regard to the interior extremity near the bright line, clear and 
pellucid, 
