THE SPIDER. 
56 ® 
fpider have thus met, it is afierted by the moft accurate 
obfervers, that the extremity of the claws of the former 
opens, by a kind of fpring, and lets out a white fubftance, 
■which he applies beneath the abdomen of the female, and 
thus accompli fhes the great purpofe of nature f. 
In this country, where all tiie infect tribes are kept 
under by the coldnefs of the climate, or by human adi- 
duity, the fpiders are fmall in fize, and comparatively 
few in number : Here, they are an inoffenfive, as well as 
a humble tribe ; but in the warmer regions of Africa 
and America, they are hideous and terrible- There, the 
fpiders, as well as all the infect tribe, acquire a fize and 
a vigour, which to the inhabitants of the north of Eu- 
rope mult appear tncredible. The abdomen of the Mar - 
tinico fpider is as larg as a hen’s egg, and covered all 
over with hair: Its web is tlrong; and its bite is danger- 
ous. Happy it is for us, that we are placed at fuch a 
diftance from thefe animals, that we can ftudy their 
hiltory without dreading their refentment. 
The eyes are placed all arou. d the head; th ey are im- 
moveable, and deftitute of eyelids, but are tort led with 
a tranfparent horny fubftance, which at once pvote&s and 
affifts their vifion. A number of eyes fo unufual among 
the reft of animated beings, feems to have been deemed 
neceflary to an infedt deftined to procure its fupport by 
themoft watchful attention. The mouth of the fpider is 
equally fitted for his occupation : It confifts of two fer- 
rated pincers, which fpring from the forehead, and ter- 
minate like the claws of a cat. A little below the point 
of the claw there is a fmall hole, through which the ani- 
mal 
f Lyonnet and Lifter. 
