The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-22
SPIDERS.
Something Concerning Their Structure
and Habits-Not SO Dangerous Many
Suppose.

Something Concerning Their Structure
and Habits-Not so Dangerous as Many
suppose.
Many persons would be ready to af-
firm that the spider is an insect; but an
eminent naturalist has declared that
the spider and an insect are very dis
similar in structure, being as nearly
alike, in fact, as a COW and Goldfish,
They have one common feature, in that
each wears its skeleton on the outside,
with its muscles attached on the
inside; but with this kindred peculiar
ity the resemblance ends.
The spider is divided into two parts;
the insect into three. In the spider the
head and thorax are combined. Above
the mouth, and hanging down in front,
are pair of jaws which contain the
poison fangs with which the spider is
enabled to secure and kill the insects
upon which it preys. Behind these are
smaller jaws, which assist in preparing
the food for the mouth. The spider
has eight eyes, so arranged that they
look in different directions.
The spider has four pairs Of legs; the
insects three pairs The legs are COW
cred with hair, which differs in length
at different periods of life, and which
renders service in securing a hold upon
the web which it so industriously spins.
The thread is thrown off from the little
appendages, at the end of the abdomen,
called spinnerets. The thread of the
spider is composed of innumerable
small strands, which may often be
pulled apart like the tibers of a rope.
One of these small strands is said to be
one two-millionth the thickness of a
hair; but us hair differs in texture, we
may simply conclude that the strands
are of surprising delicacy and fineness.
Spiders spin webs throughout their
whole existence, and each spider pro-
duces three distinct kinds of silk. One
kind is very strong, and of this the
radiating lines of the web are made
The cross lines are finer, and fastened
upon them are many globules of sticky
gum. 1t is said that there are fourteen
hundred gUmmy spots to every inch of
web. A scientist drew from the body
of a single spider three thousand, four
hundred and eighty yards of silll-a
little less than three miles. The silk
woven from the spiders thread is said
to be more glossy and brilliant than
of the siikworm. 1t is sometimes
utilized. Stocking have been made of
it, and enough was once secured to
weave an entire suit of clothes for
Louis XIV.
Spiders display great activity, and
are not without their share of accom-
plishments. They run with surprising
speed, can climb perpendicular glass,
dig holes, spread nets and run down
prey. They also swim well, some
species spending nearly their whole
existence under water. Others have
the power to rise higher than any bird
This feat is accomplished by throwing
out webs, which are swept upward by
heated currents of air
The female spider is bigger and
fercer than the male, whose devotion
she sometimes cruelty repays by quietly
devouring him. In one tribe the fe-
male is hundreds OF times larger than
the male.
The mother spider often shows great
devotion to her eggs, carrying them
about with her enveloped in siIken
web, as livery anxious for their safety.
The young spider issues from the egg
in form strongly resembling the parent
spider. 1t sheds its skin at short inter-
walls of time, until it has reached adult
size. The spider can shake off its legs
like a lobster. Some species carry
their young on their backs, thus maxi
ing long journeys. Spiders are less
dangerous than many suppose, although
some of the larger species can innict
serious wounds.-O@r YoHng People.