THE SPIKER. 
263 
is a necessity for their exertion. They have all eight leo S 
joined like those of lobsters, and similar also in another re- 
spect ; for if a leg be torn away, or ajoint cut olf, a new one 
will quickly grow in its place, and the animal will find itself 
fitted for combat as before. At the end of each leo- there are 
three crooked moveable claws ; namely, a small one, placed 
higher up, like a cock’s spur, by the assistance of which it 
adheres to the threads of its web. There are two others 
larger, which meet together like a lobster’s claw, by which 
they can catch hold of the smallest depressions, walking up or 
down the very polished surfaces, on which they can find in- 
equalities that are imperceptible to our grosser sight. But 
when they walk upon such bodies as are perfectly smooth as 
looking-glass, orpolished marble, they squeeze a little sponW 
which grows near the extremity of their claws, and thus dif- 
fusing a glutinous substance, adhere to the surface until they 
make a second step. Besides the eight legs just mentioned, 
animals have two others, which may more properly be called 
arms, as they do not serve to assist motion, but are used in 
holding and managing their prey. 
The spider, though thus formidably equipped, would sel- 
dom prove successful in the capture, were it not equally fur- 
nished with other instruments to assist its depredations. It 
is a most experienced hunter, and spreads its nets to catch 
such animals as it is unable to pursue. The spider’s web is 
generally laid in those places where flies are most apt to 
shelter. There the little animal remains for days, nay weeks 
together, in patient expectation, seldom changing its situa- 
tion though ever so unsuccessful. 
For the purposes of making this web, Nature has supplied 
this animal with alargequantity of glutinous matter, and five 
dugs or teats for spinning it into thread. This substance is 
contained in a little bag, and at first sight it resembles soft 
glue ; but when examined more accurately, it will be found 
twisted into many coilsofan agate colour, and upon breaking 
>t, the contents may be easily drawn out into threads, from 
the tenacity of the substance, not from those threads beimr 
already formed. Those who have seen the machine by which 
"fire is spun, will have an idea of the manner in which this 
animal forms the threads of its little net, the orifices of the 
five teats above mentioned, through which the thread is 
drawn, contracting or dilating at pleasure. The threads 
"finch we see, and appear so fine, are, notwithstanding com- 
posed of five joined together, and these are many times 
doubled when the web is in formation. 
When a house-spider proposes to begin a web, it first makes 
