<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def _connect(self):
 """ Connects the bot to the server and identifies itself. """

        self.conn = self._create_connection()
        spawn(self.conn.connect)
        self.set_nick(self.nick)
        self.cmd(u'USER', u'{0} 3 * {1}'.format(self.nick, self.realname))