eee PLATE XLix 
common to the family, is apparent in all. Our domeftic Spiders are 
plain in their colours, and feldom attain a very extraordinary fize ; 
the gardens are infefted by {pecies fomewhat larger, and more lively 
in their marks and teints, but if we with to trace the juft gradations 
of the beauty, or fize, of thofe deieltable creatures, the forefts abound ; 
and will afford the higheft gratification to the enquiries of the naturalift. 
We have Spiders purely white, or white ftained with a lovely green; 
yellow, marked with a vivid red; purples fhaded with the richeft hues, 
and the brightef! browns, befpangled with the utmoft elegance and 
fymmetry : Yet under thofe rich adornments which nature has fo pro- 
fufely beftowed on this complication of beauty, and ferocity, we dif- 
cover inherent qualities, which, in larger animals, would become 
formidable, and though we feel confident of our fuperiority over the 
infidious art of fuch a contemptible creature, yet the mind is fufcepti- 
ble of an inward abhorrence at its touch, which neither the expanfion 
of philofophy, or ignorance of its difpofition, will fometimes fupprefs. 
It is probable, that Thom/an, in his piaieinas of the Spider, felt this 
Sia ed of the human mihd, 
ce 
To heedlefs flies the window proves 
A conftant death ; where, gloomily retired, 
The villain Spider lives, cunning and fierce, 
Mixture abhorr’d! Amid a mangled heap 
Of carcafes, in eager watch he fits, 
O’er-looking all his waving fnares around. 
Near the dire cell, the dreadlefs wanderer oft 
Paffes, as oft the ruffian fhews his front ; 
The prey at laft enfhar’d, he dreadful darts 
‘With rapid glide along the leaning line; 
And fixing in the wretch his cruel fangs, 
Strikes backward grimly pleas’d: the flutt’ring wing, 
And fhriller found declare extreme diftrefs, 
And afk the helping hofpitable hand.” 
Early in the fpring we find the nefts of Spiders in the crevices 
of old walls, trees, and other obfcure places. ‘They are enclefed in 
pisces of a white, yellow, or grey colour, varying according to the 
{pecies 3 
