120 
MODERN SYSTEM. 
the apex of which bears a forceps with equal fingers : palpi formed 
like legs, terminated by a hook : both) more or less oval. Second 
pair of legs almost six times the length of the body : tarsi all capil- 
lary, very slender, the first joints elongate, four times (or more) 
longer than broad. 
Sp. 1. Ph. Opilio. Latr. — Male, Phalangium cornutum. Linn., Fair. 
Female, Phalangium Opilio. Linn., Fabr. 
Inhabits Europe on walls and rocks. 
Genus 5. OPILIO. Leack. 
Eyes placed on a common peduncle : mandibles corneous, subcvlindric, 
compressed, Inarticulate, indexed or genicuiated at the second joint, 
the apex of which has a forceps with equal fingers : palpi formed 
like legs, terminated by a hook: body more or less oval. Second pair 
of legs three or four times the length of the body, the fourth and fol- 
lowing joints a little elongate, twice as long as broad. 
Sp. 1 . Op. Histrix. 
Inhabits France and England. 
Fam. II. Aranead.e. Leach. 
Araneides. Latrcille. 
Eyes six or eight: anus with nipples for spinning. 
The animals composing this most natural family are familiarly 
denominated Spiders, and, as before observed, were included by 
Linne, Fabricius, and other authors in one genus, which they called 
Aranea ; but as the species are very numerous, they were obliged to 
divide them into sections, which they distinguished by the situa- 
tions of their eyes. These organs are immoveable, and consist each 
of a single lens, which deprives them of the faculty of seeing in 
every direction. 
“ The Ar.wk.adt. are by far the most interesting animals of that 
class of which they form the type ; and consequently their habits 
and structure excited the attention of naturalists at a very early pe- 
riod. Spiders frequently change their skins, and their skins are often 
found in their webs, being dry and transparent, with their mandibles 
attached to them. W hen about to cast their covering, they suspend 
themselves in some corner, and creep out of a fissure which takes 
place on their back, gradually withdrawing their legs from the skin, 
as if from a glove. They have likewise the power of reproducing 
their legs : the mode in which this takes place was first made known 
by that accurate observer of nature, Sir Joseph Banks.” 
“ As he was writing one evening in his study, one of the web- 
spinning spiders, of more than the middle size, passed over some 
papers on the table, holding a fiy in its mouth. Much surprised to 
see a spider of this description walking about with its prey, and 
