PART THE FIRST. 
OF SPIDERS IN GENERAL. 
SECTION THE FIRST. 
OF WHAT IS COMMON TO ALL SPIDERS. 
I. I^NDER the denomination of Spiders, I comprehend thofe infe6ls only, whofe thorax 
and abdomen cohere by a certain bender junclure; and whofe males have their 
fexiial organs on the arms; the females under the abdomen. 
2. Whether Spiders can properly be faid to confift of dibincl head, fhoulders, back, and 
other parts, I do not mean to enquire. For the fake of brevity as well as eafe, I call the upper 
part of the trunk the thorax, or breaji ; and the lower, the abdomen, or belly. 
3. All Spiders have eight eyes, eight feet, two arms, and as many holders, each of which 
are defended by a claw; they have alfo the power of emitting threads from peculiar channels 
placed at the end of the abdomen; and propagate their fpecies by eggs. 
4. They are all predacious, and fpare no living creature which is in their power to catch, 
not even their own fpecies ; yet fome of them are capable of fupporting abftinence for an 
incredible time. 
5. Like crabs, fnakes, and caterpillars, they caft their fkins; fome of them not lefs than 
three times. At this period they are fubjed to the danger of the Ichneumon, an infe6l which 
faftens its eggs upon them; in which cafe they afford fuflenance to ddxzlarsice of thofe infe^fs 
at the expenfe of their own lives. 
6. Soon after they have caft their fkin for the laft time, they acquire their perfe6l ftature, 
and firft begin to copulate. 
7. The males are commonly much rarer than the females, and it is probable that one male 
is capable of impregnating feveral females. After the time of copulation, hardly any males 
are to be found. 
8. The males have always a larger thorax, and a fmaller abdomen than the females. The 
abdomen of the females is evidently larger, on account of the ovary, which, fwelling at the 
time of their fecundation, gives them a more handfome appearance than the males. 
