SPIDER. 
515 
ceeding from the fore part of the head, which are 
indented with strong points, like a couple of saws* 
and ending in a nail made like the claw of a cat. 
Near the point of the nail is a small aperture, 
through which it is evident, they eject a very viru- 
lent poison. They have no arms so formidable to 
their enemies as these. They occasionally open 
and extend their two branches, and when they no 
longer make use of their nails they bend and bring 
each of them down upon its branch, like a pruning- 
knife clasped upon its handle. 
They all likewise have eight legs, jointed like 
those of crabs ; and at the extremity of these legs, 
three crooked and moveable claws^ that is to say, a 
small one placed on one side, like a spur, by the as- 
sistance of which they fasten themselves to their 
thread ; and two others of a larger size, the internal 
part of whose curve is indented, and which serve 
them to fix themselves where they please, and en- 
able them to slide either obliquely, or with their 
back downwards, by grasping whatever comes in 
their way. They have likewise two little round 
balls or sponges at the bottom of their feet, on 
which they advance with a softer pace, and draw in 
their bending claws in order to preserve them on 
those occasions where they can dispense with their 
agency. Besides these eight legs* spiders have two 
others, inserted into the fore part of their body, and 
which we may call their arms, since they do not 
use them for transferring themselves from one place 
to another, but only for holdings and turning their 
2 L 2 
