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CHAPTER II. 
OF VERTICAL OR WEE-SPIDERS. 
I. I THINK proper to begin with thefe, becaufe their I])iral or twifted webs are mold 
obvious. They prefer open places to fpread their nets in j and place them almoft per- 
pendicular to the horizon, whence their name : or they might have been denominated from 
the regularity or roundnefs of their nets. 
2. They work at their webs all day long, beginning by throwing out fome longer threads 
over the fpace which they purpofe to occupy. Nature inftru6ls them fkilfully to double 
thofe threads which are to bear the heavieft burthen j and to tie them together, in fuch a 
manner that the threads run all at equal diftances. 
3. When they have expanded their webs, they fix a downy fpot in the place deflined for 
the centre of it : then they make the number of radii for which they have occafion j but they 
do not make fo many as appear to be in the web when it is finidied, becaufe they put in new 
ligaments occafionally, at their leifure, and when they are wanted ; whence thefe additional 
crofs-threads are not obliged to be extended the whole length from the centre to the cir- 
cumference. 
4. Moreover the Spider applies itfelf to the outer or lower fide of the web by means of 
its claws, where hanging, without refped; to right or left, it begins to conned the radii by 
the crofs or fpiral threads. 
5. Though I have never obferved any Spiders to begin their webs from the centre, but al- 
ways from the circumference, yet I have nothing to fay againfl thofe who have feen the con- 
trary ; I only relate what I have obferved myfelf. 
6. Since the intervals between the radii and crofs-threads, near the circumference, are too 
wide for the Spider to pafs over, it advances on one radius towards the centre, till it finds 
another near enough for it to mount eafily. It then follows this till it is got oppofite to the 
fpot which it has juft weaved into the former radius. It then lays hold of the thread which 
it has emitted from the tubercles with the claw of its hinder leg, and in an inftant applies 
it to the laft radius, faftening it without any knot, but by means of a glue, fo tight, that 
' when 
