L E T T E R XXIII.
TO THE SAME.
DE A R SIR, Selborne, June 8, 1775,
O n September the 2ift, 1 741, being then on a vifit, and intent on
field-diverfions, I rofe before daybreak: when I came into the
enclofures, I found the Hubbles and clover-grounds matted all over
with a thick coat of cobweb, in the mefhes of which a copious
and heavy dew hung fo plentifully that the whole face o f the
country feemed, as it were, covered with two or three fetting-nets
drawn one over another. When the dogs attempted to hunt,
their eyes were fo blinded and hoodwinked that they could not
proceed, but were obliged to lie down and fcrape the incum-
•brances from their faces with their fore-feet, fo that, finding my
fport interrupted, I returned home mufing in my mind on the
oddnefs of the occurrence.
As the morning advanced the fun became bright and warm,
Mid the day turned out one of thofe moft lovely ones which no
feafon but the autumn produces; cloudlets, calm, ferene, and
worthy of the South of France itfclf.
About nine an appearance very unufual began to demand our
attention, a Ihower of cobwebs falling from very elevated regions,
and continuing, without any interruption, till the clofe of the
day. T h.fe webs were not Angle filmy threads, floating in the
air in all directions, hut perfeft flakes or rags; fome near an
inch
inch broad, and five or fix long, which fell with a degree of
velocity that Ihewed they were confiderably heavier than the
atmofphere.
On every fide as the obferver turned his eyes might he behold
a continual fucceflion of frelh flakes falling into his fight, and
twinkling like ftars as they turned their tides towards the lun.
How far this wonderful Ihower extended would be difficult to
fay; but we know that it reached Bradley, Selborne, and Alresford,
three places which lie in a fort of a triangle, the (horteft of
whofe fides is about eight miles in extent.
At the fecond of thole places there was a gentleman (for whofe
veracity and intelligent turn we have the greateft veneration) who
obferved it the moment he got abroad; but concluded that, as-
foon as he came upon the hill above his houfe, where he took his
morning rides, he fihould be higher than this meteor, which he
imagined might have been blown, like ‘Thijlle-down, from the
common above : but, to his great aftonilhment, when he rode to;
the moft elevated part of the down, 300 feet above his fields, he
found the webs in appearance ftill as much above him as before;
ftill defeending into fight in a conftant fucceflion, and twinkling
in the fun, fo as to draw the attention of the moft incurious.
Neither before nor after was any fuch fall obferved; but on this
day the flakes hung in the trees and hedges fo thick, that a diligent
perfon fent out might have gathered bafkets full.
The remark that I fhall make on thefe cobweb-like appearances,
called gojfamer, is, that, ftrange and fuperftitious as the notions
about them were formerly, nobody in thefe days doubts but that
they are the real production of fmall fpiders, which fwarm in the
fields in fine weather in autumn, and have a power of {hooting
out webs from their tails fo as to render themfelves buoyant, and
lighter