On the Origin cf the Gojfamer. 121 



I am able to refolve the problem refpeilinc: its origin. In 

 my opinion the golTamer arifes from nothing elfe than a cer- 

 tain kind of field- fpiders, which are, however, fo fmall and 

 aftive, that they almort always efcapc notice, unlefs the ob- 

 ferver is endowed with great acutenefs of fight. I would 

 call this fpider, if it has already no name, the goffamer 

 fpider (aranea ohtextrixj : I fiiall here give a fhort defcrip- 

 tion and hiftory of it, as far as my knov.'ledge extends. 



The goflamer fpider (aranea ohtcxtrix) is as large as the 

 head of a fmall pin. On the fore-part of its longifh head it 

 has eigii't grey eyes placed in a circular form ; the extremity 

 of the body is iliaped like an egg; the body itfclf is of a 

 fhining dark-brown colour; the feet are of a moderate length, 

 and yellowifli ; and the whole animal is covered with infu- 

 lated hairs. 



Thefe infects firft appear in the beginning of Oftober, iit 

 woods, gardens, and meadows, where their eggs may be 

 hatched unhurt and unmolefted, and thence fpread them- 

 fclves over whole diftrifts, fo that during all the month of 

 Oftober and till the middle of November they may be found 

 on the dry fields throughout all Europe; and as they produce 

 a numerous progeny, extenfive traits may fometimes be feen 

 fwarming with them. The young, which have not attained 

 to their full growth, are not larger than the point of a pin ; 

 they are black, with grey feet, and almoft imperceptible to 

 the naked eye. In the beginning of Oftober, when very 

 few of them have been hatched, one obferves only in 

 the fundune a few fingle threads of their webs, which they 

 extend from twig to twig, or from ftraw to draw ; but about 

 the middle of the month their threads become more per- 

 ceptible; and towards the end, if people {land or place thera- 

 felves in fuch a pofition that they can fee the fun-beams play- 

 ing on the tender threads, they perceive liedges, meadows, 

 corn-fields, Rubble land, and even whole diflrifts, covered 

 with a fine white thick fort of gauze. This fpider belongs 

 to that kind which do laot weave webs, but only extend fingle 



threads 



