She spider, 
559 
Genus VIII, — Aranea. The spider „ 
The infe&s of this family may be confidered as a kind 1 
of Argufes, all poffeffing eight eyes, and diftingui (liable 
into families by their arrangement and pofitioa. They 
have eight feet, and a mouth armed with crotchets. The 
inftruments for fpinning are Ihaped like nipples, and 
placed in the anus. 
But the circumftance by which the fpiders are mol 
diftinguiihed, are the two articulated palpi, which are 
headed by the genitals of the male in that fex f . As the 
fpiders prey upon each other, except during the time of 
their amours, they dare not venture within reach of each: 
other, but with the utmoft caution. They are then feen 
ftretching out their legs, fhaking their webs, and tamper- 
ing with each other, by a flight touch with the extremity 
of the feet then, in a fright, dropping haftily down 
their threads, and returning in a few moments to make a 
frefli trial by feeling. When once both parties are well 
affured of the fex they have to deal with, the approaches- 
of their feet to feel become more frequent, confidence 
takes place, and the inftant of amorous dalliance enfues 
We cannot, fays Lyonnet, fufficiently admire how care- 
ful thefe animals are, not to give themfelves up blindly 
to a paffion, or venture upon an imprudent ftep, whickr 
might prove fatal to them. After the male and female 
fpvdeff 
f Syft. Nat. p. 103©. 
f B-irbut, p. 339, 
