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C H A P T E R V.
OF THE LEAPERS IN GENERAL, AND OF THE FIRST DIVISION, OR
W O L V E S .
I- THOUGH the works of the Creator appear to us to be intermixed in a wonderful manner
with conveniences and inconveniences (if fuch an expreffion may be allowed) and
though men frequently, alas ! repine at the difpenfations of Providence, yet every other animal,
even the leaft, appears to be contented with its lot. Exclufive of the fmall and dim eyes,
which the Spiden hitherto defcribed, appear to have, their tumid bellies and flender legs render
them lefs capable of running, or feeking abroad for their prey,' but fo much the fitter and
readier for their various modes of weaving their webs, by which means without care or trouble
they obtain a fufficient nutriment. On the contrary, all the Spiders which come now to be
defcribed, have flighter or more agile bodies, and thicker and ftronger legs, by which means
they are fo much the more calculated for long excurfions and great leaps, as they are lefs fo
for weaving. With their large and iharp eyes they obferve their prey, even when flying about
at fome diftance, and when it approaches nearer, fuddenly feize it.
2. TH I S clafs of Spiders being clearly divided into three aflbrtments, let us firft examine,
(without difturbing the arrangement of the others) that fet, which was caUed by the older
writers, by the name of Wohes, and which have the following charaders :
1. THEY have four large eyes, and as many fmaller ones in a right line below them, on
the thorax. Of the former, the two outer are bigger than the intermediate ones, and above
them, and decline a little towards the fide: the other two alfo are on the fide, but nearer the
abdomen. See plate 5, fig. 9.
2. THE hind-legs are longeft; the fore-legs a little ihorter; then the fécond pair; and the
third pair are ihorteft.
3. THE females carry their bags of eggs under their bellies; to which the young alfo adhere
after being hatched; being carried about, and fed by the parent, till they are able to
ihift for themfelves. TSPECIES I.
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S P E C I E S I.—A . FABRILIS.
F A B R I L E - S P I D E R .
ABOUT the middle of July, I caught a fingle female, which had loft one of its legs ; notwithftanding
which llie eafily took flies upon the wing ; f rom which circumftance I was m
hopes of her recovery : ftie died however in a fliort time after.
THE fpots placed before the Spider in the figure ftiew the magnitude of the eyes. Plate 4,
fig. 9. They are all black.
THE legs are glaucous, ftrewed interchangeably with briftles and prickles, and abound with
long unequal hairs. The thorax is hairy, longifli, a little more acuminated towards the
anterior part, and rifing. On the middle, is a double wedge-ihaped fpot; and near the abdomen,
a lucid facula; and on each fide, next the legs, it is bordered with white. Withm the
wedge and the browniih edge, the thorax abounds on the anterior half with white waves;
and towards the infertion of the fécond pair of legs, is a black oblique mark. The abdomen
is oblong, ovate, filky, black below, and brownifti above, is marked by a multangular black
line, and a narrow lucid border from the beginning of the breaft to the middle of the abdomen.
It is alfo variegated by duiky tranfverfe undulations towards the anus, and with five
lucid points in a longitudinal diredion on each fide. Above the junfture, neareft the thorax,
is a black V. filled up with greyiili hairs, and forming a triangle. The arms are longifli,
hairy, briftly, and aculeated. The holders black, perpendicular, hairy, with bright fpots of
hair at the extremities. The claws ftrong and black.
THE male was difcovered foon afterwards, which in all refpeas, except the arms, refembled
the female.
SPECIES IL
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