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POISONOUS INSECTS 
Spiders. —It should be stated that spiders are not crue insects, 
as very many people think they are. They really are an order by 
themselves, but we shall speak of them here. They hawe eight legs, 
for instance, whereas no insect possesses more than six legs. Then, 
their bodies are divided only into two parts, whereas those of the 
insects are divided into three. And, even more important, they are 
perfect when they emerge from the egg, instead of first passing through 
any distinct stages of growth or development. 
All the spiders are creatures of prey. Their legs are furnished 
with strong curved claws; the jaws very much resemble the fangs of 
a venomous serpent. Each of these jaws is hollow, and communicates 
at the base with a gland, in which a very poisonous fluid is stored up. 
This poison is so potent that even a large insect succumbs almost 
instantly to its effects. There have been many cases indeed, in which 
even our common spiders have bitten human beings, and injured them 
so severely as to cause great pain and swelling. 
All spiders, however, do not capture their prey in like manner, 
for some are very swift of foot, and overtake their victims by means 
of their own activity, while others spin the curious nets which we call 
webs, and lie in wait in readiness to pounce upon any insect which is 
unfortunate to fly into them. 
The Water spider.— Many spiders, also, carry their eggs about 
with them in a silken bag; but there is one which forms a far more 
singular home for its young, and that is the well-known water spider, 
which is so common in weedy ponds of the country. 
The principal requirements of the water spider are rather singular. 
Although it breathes air, it is yet intended to live chiefly beneath the 
surface of the water; and there, also, its eggs are to be laid and its 
young ones brought up. It possesses means of breathing during its 
long dives, and also of enabling its young to do the same until they 
are old enough to leave the protecting nest. 
Scorpions. —Belonging to the same group as the spiders is the 
curious animal known as the scorpion, which is very common in the 
warmer countries of almost all parts of the world. Like the spider, the 
scorpion is venomous, but in quite a different manner, its poison¬ 
bearing weapon lying at the end of the tail, and not in the mouth. 
