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