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--Réaumur 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. Réaumur--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” 138