CHAPTER IX.
THE SPIDER.
ATTEMPTS TO PROCURE SILKEN FILAMENTS FROM SPIDERS.
Structures of spiders—Spiders not properly insects, and why—Apparatus for spinning—Extraordinary
number of spinnerules—Great number of filaments composing
one thread—Reaumur and Leeuwenhoeck's laughable estimates—Attachment
of the thread against a wall or stick—Shooting of the lines of spiders—1.
Opinions of Redi, Swammerdam, and Kirby—2. Lister, Kirby, and White—3.
La Pluche and Bingley—4. D'Isjonval, Murray, and Bowman—5. Experiments
of Mr. Blackwall—His account of the ascent of gossamer—6. Experiments
by Rennie—Thread supposed to go off double—Subsequent experiments—Nests,
Webs, and Nets of Spiders—Elastic satin nest of a spider—Evelyn's
account of hunting spiders—Labyrinthic spider's nest—Erroneous account
of the House Spider—Geometric Spiders—attempts to procure silken filaments
from Spiders bags—Experiments of M. Bon—Silken material—Manner of its
preparations—M. Bon's enthusiasm—His spider establishment—Spider-silk not
poisonous—Its usefulness in healing wounds—Investigation of M. Bon's establishment
by M. Reaumur—His objections—Swift's satire against speculators
and projectors—Ewbank's interesting observations on the ingenuity of spiders—Mason-spiders—Ingenious
door with a hinge—Nest from the West Indies with
spring hinge—Raft-building Spider—Diving Water-Spider—Rev. Mr. Kirby's
beautiful description of it—Observations of M. Clerck—Cleanliness of Spiders—Structure
of their claws—Fanciful account of them patting their webs—Proceedings
of a spider in a steamboat—Addison—His suggestions on the compilation
of a "History of Insects."
Of spiders there are many species; most of them extend
their labors no farther than merely to make a web to ensnare
and detain their food. But others are known to go beyond
this, and spin a bag in the form of a cocoon, for the protection
of their eggs, nearly similar to that of the silk-worm.[1]
Modern naturalists do not rank spiders among insects, because they have no antennæ, and no division between the head
- ↑ Don Luis Nee observed on certain trees growing in Chilpancingo, Tixtala in South America, ovate nests of caterpillars, eight inches long, which the inhabitants manufacture into stockings and handkerchiefs.—Annals of Botany, 2d, p 104.
