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niihed; they are clofely joined, and near the thorax are fomewhat thicker, but more flender
towards the extremity, which is furniilied with black or blackifli claws, which LISTER has
named tela, or weapons. By thefe weapons, or holders, their prey is not only killed and
held fait, but is alfo brought or prefented to the mouth, which is fituated immediately under
them. See plate lo. fig. 4. A.
24. THE MOUTH confifts of two jaws, moving below and between the holders. Each jaw
is armed with little hooks or teeth, placed femicircularly, with which the animal tears and eats
its prey. See letter C. Frifch has obferved thisj of whofe defcription and figure in Vol. vii.
page 7, table 4, of his works, the reader may judge for himfelf.
25. THE THROAT (gula) which is fituated below the mouth, and is ihewn at letter D .
receives the juice which is fqueezed by the jaws from the prey.
26. THE THORAX (peSius) is the trunk to which the feveral parts forementioned are joined.
This in moft fpecies is rather more flender forwards j it is obtufe however, and flat underneath.
The upper part is more or lefs fliarp, like the roof of a houfe, in fome fpecies, while
in others it is flat. In fome it is very hairy, but in others there are only fcattered hairs upon
it. Thefe have a gafli or junfture on the thorax, refembling the letter V. Of the internal
flrnifture of the thorax I can determine nothing at prefent; but from conjefture, I imagine
the received aliment to be conveyed here, and digefl:ed for the fupport of the other parts,
27. THE ABDOMEN (ahus) if we except the length of the legs, confl:itutes the greater part
of a Spider, efpecially in the female, whofe fpecies are elegantly difl:inguiflaed by the changeable
colours and marks with which this part is ornamented. It is very nicely connefted
with the thorax by a very flender bond ; one end of which is joined with the centre of the
thorax, towards the hinder part ; the other with almoft a third of the lower part of the abdomen,
efpecially in the retiary Spiders, or thofe which make webs. The fexual organ of the
female is fituated on the under fide of the abdomen, towards the fore part of it, and is very
confpicuous in the time of copulation ; its particular defcription will be given in the hiftoiy
of thofe fpecies of Spiders, which I have obferved at that period.
28. THE EGGS, which are never depofited naked, but always wrapped up in a larger or
fmaller web, are not alike Ln all the difterent fpecies, but are angular in fome, in others round,
and fo glued together, as not to be feparated without defl:roying them ; as will be fliewn in
its proper place. I fliall here only divide them into three clafles, viz. into large, fmall, and
middle-Jized. They are not covered with a fhell, like the eggs of birds, but merely with a foft
ikin, which is fo tranfparent, that the colour of the foetus may be diftinguiflied through it,
and
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and unlefs I am deceived, even the diftinguifliing marks of the young Spider before it is
hatched. When the infeft is hatched, this flcin collapfes into a flirivelled bladder.
29. IN the hinder part of the abdomen in both fexes, there are fome prominent tubercles,
through which they emit the threads with which they make the webs ; and as the tubercles
vary in the difl^-erent fpecies, I fliall take an opportunity of relating my obfervations on them;
and in the defcription of the Water Spider, I fliall ihew that the tubercles ferve alfo for the
purpofe of refpiration.
30. IN the midft of the tubercles, and concealed amongfl: them, lies the aperture of
the anus.
3 1 . THE SHELL, SKIN, or Epidermis, which Spiders cafl:, is horny and tranfparent, yet
cartilaginous, fliewing the fize of the animal in the thorax, legs, eyes, arms, and holders, and
even the claws; but the covering of the abdomen is a pelHcle or thin Mn, which does not retain
its fliape, but all contrafts in wrinkles. The Spider, when about to cafl: its flcin, feeks
out a proper place where it may lie torpid, wrapped up in its web. The whole fliell of the
thorax being then broken off, is feparated from the limbs, adhering only a little by the hinder
part, the fore part being bent upwards. At this time the animal is in fuch a lethargic and
languid fl:ate as not to be able to defend itfelf, even againil a gnat; at length it comes to itfelf
again; and as far as its weak fl:ate will permit, begins to fliew a little agihty by kicking and
pulling; refting a while between every attempt, and then going to work again, till at lafl: it
has extricated itfelf entirely from the old fliin; but fo great is the debility under which the
animal ftill labours, that it is yet unable to go the length of its body from the flough; it
therefore remains fufpended in its web, till the air has fufficiently dried and flrrengthened its
fltin, when regaining its ufual powers, it refumes its wonted manner of living, clad in its
new habit or flsin.
PAR7