On a large Spider's Eyes • 413 
After clearing away from the inner Part 
t>f the Shell the Blood Veffels and other In- 
teguments of the Retina, or perhaps the 
Brain, the two larger Eyes (which were each 
as big as a middling Pin’s Head) appeared to 
be tranfparent fpherical Bodies of an Amber 
Colour. Part of each Sphere projected ex¬ 
ternally beyond its Socket, but the largefl 
Part was funk internally within it, and there 
was round each a circular tranfparent Mem¬ 
brane by which it feemed to be faftened 
The Figure and Tranfparency of thefe 
Eyes raifed in me a Defire to fee with the 
Eye of a Spider; and therefore cutting them 
out very carefully (for in their natural Si¬ 
tuation they could not anfwer my Purpofe) 
I took the Pains to fet each of them in a 
* Spiders Eyes are not pearled or CQmpofed of fmallerEyes 
like tjrofe of Flies, Beetles, and moft Kinds of Infects : they 
refemble more the Eyes of Quadrupeds, but are not moveable, 
which is probably the Reafon why Providence has furnifhed 
the Spider with more Eyes than Infects that have Eyes pearl¬ 
ed, or Animals whofe Eyes can turn : for as Safety requires 
that Creatures fhould be able to difcover Danger, or event 
their Food, on whatever Side it lies, fome have pearled Eyes, 
or more properly Clutters of Eyes, which (tho J not move- 
able) are diredled everyWay : the Eyes of others are as it 
were multiplied by Motion ; but Eyes like thofe of the Spi¬ 
eler, and immoveable, would be unable to anfwer thefe Pur- 
pofes, unlefs there were more than two. 
Indeed the Shepherd Spider has two Eyes and no more: 
but then its Legs are fo very long, its Body fo fmall, and 
thofe Eyes are placed in the Middle of its Back on fuch an. 
Eminence, and in fuch a Direction, that they take in nearly 
a whole Circle. A fuller Account of this Spider, andFigura 
©fits Eyes, may be feen in Dr. Hook’s Micrographics , 
