[] They are for the most Part, some of the Phalænæ-Tribe, which inhabit the tunnelled, convolved Leaves, that we meet with on Vegetables in the Spring and Summer. And it is a somewhat wonderful Artifice, how so small and weak a Creature, as one of those newly-hatch’d Maggots, (for doubtless it is they, not the Parent-Animal, because she emits no Web, nor hath any tectrine Art,) can be able to convolve the stubborn Leaf, and then bind it in that neat round Form, with the Thread or Web it weaves from its own Body; with which it commonly lines the convolved Leaf, and stops up the two Ends, to prevent its own falling out; and Earwigs, and other noxious Animals getting in.
[w] The several Sorts of Phryganea, or Cadews, in their Nympha, or Maggot-state, thus house themselves; one Sort in Straws, call’d from thence Straw-Worms; others in two or more Sticks, laid parallel to one another, creeping at the Bottom of Brooks; others with a small Bundle of Pieces of Rushes, Duck-weed, Sticks, &c. glu’d together, where-with they float on the Top, and can row themselves therein about the Waters, with the Help of their Feet: Both these are call’d Cob-bait. Divers other Sorts there are, which the Reader may see a Summary of, from Mr Willughby, in Raii Method. Insect. p. 12. together with a good, though very brief Description of the Papilionaceous Fly, that comes from the Cod-bait Cadew. It is a notable architectonick Faculty, which all the Variety of these Animals have, to gather such Bodies as are fittest for their Purpose, and then to glue them together; some to be heavier than Water, that the Animal may remain at the Bottom, where its Food is; (for which Purpose they use Stones, together with Sticks, Rushes, &c.) and some to be lighter than Water, to float on the Top, and gather its Food from thence. These little Houses look coarse and shew no great Artifice outwardly; but are well tunnelled, and made within with a hard tough Paste; into which the hinder Part of the Maggot is so fix’d, that it can draw its Cell after it any where, without Danger of leaving it behind; as also thrust its Body out, to reach what it wanteth; or withdraw it into its Cell, to guard it against Harms.
[x] Having mention’d the Spider, I shall take this Occasion, (although it be out of the Way,) to give an Instance of the Poyson of some of them. Scaliger Exerc. 186. relates, That in Gascony, his Country, there are Spiders of that virulency, that if a Man treads upon them, to crush them, their Poyson will pass through the very Soles of his Shoe. Boyl. Subtil. of Effluv. c. 4.
Mr. Leewenhoek put a Frog and a Spider together into a Glass, and having made the Spider sting the Frog divers Times, the Frog dy’d in about an Hour’s Time. Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 272.
In the same Transaction, is a curious Account of the Manner how Spiders lay, and guard their eggs, viz. they emit them not out of the hindermost Part of the Body, but under the upper Part of her Belly, near the Hind-Legs, &c. Also there is an Account of the Parts from which they emit their Webs, and divers other Things worth Observation, with Cuts illustrating the Whole.
But in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 22. Dr. Nath. Fairfax, from S. Redi, and his own Observations, thinks Spiders not venomous; several Persons, as well as Birds, swallowing them without Hurt: Which I my self have known in a Person of Learning, who was advis’d to take them medicinally at first, and would at any Time swallow them, affirming them to be sweet, and well tasted: And not only innocuous, but they are very salutiferous too, in some of the most stubborn Diseases, if the pleasant Story in Mouffet be true; of a rich London Matron, cur’d of a desperate Tympany, by a certain Debauchee, that hearing of her Case, and that she was given over by the Doctors, went to her, pretending to be a Physician, and confidently affirming he would cure her; which she being willing to believe, agrees with him for so much Money, one half to be paid down, the other upon Cure. Upon which he gives her a Spider, promising her Cure in three Days. Upon which, (not doubting but that he had poison’d her, and fearing he might be call’d to account for it,) he gets out of Town as fast as he could. But instead of being poison’d, she soon recover’d. After some Months, the Quack gets privately to Town, when he thought the Bustle might be over; and enquiring how his Patient did, was inform’d of her Cure; and thereupon visiting her, and making an Excuse for his Absence, he receiv’d his Pay with great Applause and Thanks. Mouff. Insect. l. 2. c. 15.
Having said so much of Spiders, I might here add their Flight: But of this, see [Book VIII. Chap. 4. Note (e).]
CHAP. XIV.
Of Animals Self-Preservation.