

FIG. 40. GOSSAMER. 



Many small spiders often stand on tiptoe on the top of a fence or on 

 a plant, secrete a parachute of silken threads, and allow themselves to 

 be borne by the wind from one parish to another, or across a sheet of 

 water, or even on to an island far from land. They can roll up their 

 threads or lengthen them as they are borne along in their passive migra- 

 tion. The significance of the ballooning is probably to take the spiders 

 away from a crowded area. It is commonest in autumn. When 

 thousands of spiders do this and the broken- off threads sink on to the 

 ground and hedges often after serving their purpose we speak of a 

 shower of gossamer. 



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