
A concise, illustrated guide invites listeners into the hidden world of spiders, revealing how these eight‑legged relatives of scorpions are built and classified. Beginning with a clear tour of external features—eyes, legs, spinnerets, and the tiny poisonous fangs—the book explains the anatomy that underpins every spider’s remarkable abilities. The author’s careful drawings bring each part to life, making even the most intricate structures easy to picture.
The subsequent chapters move from form to function, exploring how spiders capture prey, spin silk, and care for their young. Drawing on classic observations while steering clear of sensational myths, the text details hunting techniques, web designs, and the subtle differences between males and females across species. Listeners will come away with a solid grasp of spider biology, appreciating both the elegance of a spider’s silk and the surprising diversity of its habits.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (84K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Paul Marshall, Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2018-10-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1847–1930
A pioneering American arachnologist and gifted illustrator, he helped shape early spider study in the United States. His books and scientific drawings made close observation of the natural world vivid and approachable.
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