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159

spines, resembling teeth, and undoubtedly de. signed for the same purpose. The first pair of legs are much longer than the rest, and, from their slenderness, have the appearance of an tenn,

The Shepherd Spider and harvest Man, are of this genus, improperly classed, by popular mistake, amongst spiders, though they differ materially from them.

The real Spider, Aranea, forms the next genus, and it is so extensive, that it is divided into several sections, marked by the shape of the body, or the position of the eyes; which latter are eight in number, situated on the upper part or front of the thorax, and so placed, as to enable their owner to see its prey in every direction, though its head is immovable.

in the season of autumn, the Aranea diadema abounds in gardens. Its general colour is a deep chesnut, and the abdomen is beautifully marked with round, white spots, in a form somewhat like a diadem. This spider, after having found a convenient place of shelter, t'orms a large, thick web of yellow silk, in which it deposits its eggs, enclosing the round web, for greater security, with one of a looser texture. At the tip of the abdomen are placed five papilke or teats, through which the insect draws its thread. Each of these has a vast

number


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