Delaware Gazette And Peninsula Advertiser

From the Boston Palladium.
COMMUNICATION.

More of the Wonderful!--I received the last week the following communication from a gentleman residing in Dorchester, whose judgment was not likely to deceive him, and whose opportunities for observation have been very extensive. His whole family can attest to the fact, and the peculiar circumstances by which it was accompanied. It may gratify your readers to become acquainted with occurrences so singular of an insect so diminutive.

"Dorchester, Oct. 2d, 1818.

"Observing in the papers an article respecting the remarkable tenacity of the spider's web, I am induced to relate to you a fact which occurred at this place in July last, which may give you some idea of its extraordinary strength.

Having been informed by one of several carpenters (Mr. Jacobs) employed in the Barn, that he had discovered something extremely curious in the cellar, I followed him to the spot, where I observed a Snake about ten inches long suspended by the head in the air, without any apparent means of support. On closer investigation, however, we perceived a single thread to which he was attached, and which we traced to a spider's web on the wall three feet from the ground. The snake was of the species called the House adder, and struggled violently at our approach; when the spider, which was not so large as a common fly, regardless of our presence, descended with rapidity from its covert, twined itself round the adder's neck, and mounted again with the same celerity.--The thread by which the adder was hung did not communicate directly with the web, but ascended perpendicularly till it met a second thread, extending from the web to the ground at an angle of about 50 degrees, thus affording a kind of pulley by which the spider could elevate his enemy the more easily, and likewise prevent his touching the wall.--I visited the spot frequently in the course of three days, and almost invariably observed the spider seemed to render his prey more secure, and which by evening it had elevated more than one foot from the ground.

The next morning I observed with surprise that the adder was suspended by the tail, and its head almost touching the ground, but during the day there was no alteration of this position, except its being raised several inches higher.

On the third morning the adder seemed almost exhausted, and was secured head and tail, which were brought in contact. The spider was now busily employed in completing its arrangements, descending every few minutes, and placing additional threads round its prisoner. Towards evening the adder was raised so as to touch the second thread, and completely tied in a knot: I left him in this situation, but was much disappointed in not finding him the ensuing morning.--not only the four carpenters, but our whole family, repeatedly witnessed the curious scene."