Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04
she draws the material from her OWE

body.
Connecting with each of the pockets II
a sort of spindle arrangement that spins
the gummy substance out into exceedingly
fine threads, too fine to be seen without the
aid of the microscope! Each Of these
spinnerets or spindles is supplied with
great many tubes uniting with the pockets,
and it is through these tubes that the fluid
passes to and from the thread.
The spider has the power Of throwing
the threads from any, or all of these tubes
at once. About thousand tubes have
been counted on SINCE spinneret, 80 that
when the spindles are at work they form
from four to six thousand threads. These
become united at short distance from
the body, and form one cord or strand.
Many threads united are much stronger
than would be one Of the same thickness;
and one of these threads so united will
bear six times the weight of the spider.
Spiders differ in their formation and
habits. There is the house spider, the gar
den spider, the water spider, and many
very large spiders found in tropical coun-
tries, which have not time to describe.
I have been talking about the common
house spider, and will tell little more
about it.
The feet Of this little creature are fur
nished with claws, which serve the purpose
of fingers, and with these they can readily
handle and arrange their slender thread
according to their pleasure. Solomon
says: "The spider taketh hold with her
hands, and spreads her snare in Kings
palaces"
When the spider begins to build her
house she fastens her thread to the wall
with drop of glue, then spins along until
she fines another suitable place to which
to fasten the other end Of the thread. In
order to be sure that this is secure she
walks back and forth upon it, and if salts
fed with its strength she pins other threads
parallel with it then crosses and recrosses
them, which makes them still firmer, and
less liable to be pulled apart.
One species makes sly little nest In
the back part of the web, where she can
watch her prey without being seen. But
| as it would be too much trouble to be on
the lookout all the tins, she very cunning
ly fastens a thread to some corner of the
web, and carries the other end with her to
her nest. This is as good as bell cord to
Lady Spider, and the instant there comes
poor little innocent fly to peep into her
parlor out starts Mrs. Spider, binds up her
helpless visitor and makes of her guest q
comfortable meal To be sure this treat
mont, is not quite according to our ideas OF
polite hospitality, but Mrs. Spider has q
dainty appetite, which nothing but flies,
bugs or some other kind of insects can
satisfy.
In order to see her prey when it first ap-
proaches, no matter from what direction,
the spider is supplied with eyes oil around
hao o. OF h in
ber They are lmmovable, and want
eyelids, but they are fortified with a horny,
| transparent substance which assists the
vision.
The legs are eight in number. At the
end of each are three crooked, movable
claws, a small one placed higher up like q
cocks spur, by the assistance of which 1t
adheres TO the threads of its web There
are two others which meet together like
Holsters claw, by which it can take hold
Of any unevenness in the surface in walk
ing UP and down. But when 1t walks
upon highly polished surfaces, as looking
glass, or polished marble, 1t squeezes .
little sponge containing gummy sub
stance which grows near the end OF the
claws, thus making sticky place for the
feet as it goes along Besides the eight
legs which have mentioned, the spider
has something like legs, which may be
called arms, as they do not serve TO assist
in motion, but are used in holding and
managing its prey. There are also two
pincers on the fore part of the head,
rough, with strong points toothed like .
saw, and terminating in claws like those
of cat. A little below the point of the
claws is a little opening through which it
emts poison to kill its victim.
So you see the spider, through very
little creature, is not to be despised, or
swept ruthlessly out of existence. In its
creation are to be seen the wonderful evil
dences of the mind and thoughts of the
great Creator. Young Folks Nescs.