Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-05-12
AMERICA.
Il NeqO and AnimaI BAROMETER.

NONE of all the domeRic infeas is more
generally abhorred than the fpider, which
think is owing partly 10 its hideeus form, and
partly to the idea of is being poifonous. l
cannot but confels, that sllo was infected with
this antiPathy AMI joined in the general war
fare againR an iufe6 which by its external ap-
Pearance, is 70 little qualified to recommend
tielf to our tight, ill OF late vas Unexpectedly
cured Of this habirual adherence This cure
was effected b the perufal Of The account of
diicovery, mase Tome years Gnce by Mr.
Qustremere D'lsjonval, adjutant general to the
famous Piohegru, which convinced me, thar
this iule6f Is not 70 ufelefs as we generally think
and that we rather ought 10 court than to loath
its fociety. Il is generally known, that the
tate of the atmosphere has a vilible effea upon
certain animals, aud that, for inannce, cats
dogs, frogs, hogs, &c. have very tirong pre-
ientipent Of every change, which IS preparing
in il. The aforementioned gentleman bas diC
covered thai the fpider poleaes this quality in
more eminent degree than all other animals,
and is peculiarly fit to fsrve as an unerring
barometer. A brief ilatement Of his obierva,
tons will, | think, not be foreign 10 the fcope
OF your uf-ful and infruttive Magazine, aud
teconcie lts readers TO an animal which they
hitherto held in adherence, or, at leaf, thought
10 b. one of the 1ncR uieleis in the creation of
God.
The fpider, flys Mr.. 0. D'Isionval, is more
unerring indicator d impending changes in the
atmoipaee than The 5ef barometer. The(e
intetts have two Ii5e enl ways Of weaviag their
webs, by whic. We can know what weather we
are to have. When thc weather inclines to
turn rainy or winly, they make the principal
threads, which ire the foundation, as It were,
of their whole web, very fhort and rather thick !;
whereas ,Aey lpin them much longer, when fine
and warm we tthsr is TO De expected. Thence
it appears clearly, that the fpiders have not only
diltant Preientiment of the changes which are
preparing 10 the air. The barometer foretells
the tate OF the weather with certainty only for
about twenty four hours, whereas we may be
tuTe that the weather will be Ene twelve or
fourteen days, when the lpider makes the prin-
cipal threads Of its web long. 1t IS obvious
how important the consequences of this fnfal.
lible indication of the ftate Of the weather mutt
be 10 many inlfances, particularly with regard
70 the operations of agriculture for which
feaion It has been frequently lamented, that the
belt barometers, hydromcrs, thermometers and
eudiometers ate principally in the hands of the
containers, and very rarely in thofe of the plan
tiers OF the harveG How fortunate is it there.
fore, tsat Provideut nature, among other gifts,
alto has beloved upon the cultivator of the
country fuch cheap intrument, upon the fen
G5ility and intall blty of which, with regard 10
the impending changes in the atmoiphere, be
can rely The barometers are frequently very
fallible guides, particularly when hey point to
f-ttled fair whereas the work Of the fpider
never fails TO give the mott certain information.
This infect, which i one Of the mott economi-
cal animals, does not 60 to work, nor expends
fuch great leRgth Of threads, which it draws
out Of its body, before the mott perfect equili.
brium Of ali the conRituens parts of the air in.