GOSSAMEE. 203 



The seat of the Earl of Eglintoun, near Glasgow, is worthy 

 of notice. The pine plantations of that nobleman are very 

 grand and extensive indeed. 



LETTER LXY. 



TO THE HON. DAIKES BAEEINGTON. 



SELBORNE, June 8, 1775. 



DEAE SIE, On September the 21st, 1741, being then on a 

 visit, and intent on field diversions, I rose before daybreak : 

 when I came into the enclosures, I found the stubbles and 

 clover grounds matted all over with a thick coat of cobweb, 

 in the meshes of which a copious and heavy dew hung so 

 plentifully, that the whole face of the country seemed, as it 

 were, covered with two or three setting-nets, drawn one 

 over another. When the dogs attempted to hunt, their eyes 

 were so blinded and hoodwinked that they could not proceed, 

 but were obliged to lie down and scrape the incumbrances 

 from their faces with their fore feet ; so that, finding my 

 sport interrupted, I returned home, musing in my mind on 

 the oddness of the occurrence. 



As the morning advanced, the sun became bright and 

 warm, and the day turned out one of those most lovely ones 

 which no season but the autumn produces, cloudless, calm, 

 serene, and w r orthy of the south of France itself. 



About nine, an appearance very unusual began to demand 

 our attention, a shower of cobwebs falling from very ele- 

 vated regions, and continuing, without any interruption, till 

 the close of the day. 



These webs are not single filmy threads, floating in the 

 air in all directions, but perfect flakes or rags ; some near an 

 inch broad, and five or six long, which fell with a degree of 

 velocity, that showed they were considerably heavier than 

 the atmosphere. 



On every side, as the observer turned his eyes, he might 

 behold a continual succession of fresh flakes falling into his 

 sight, and twinkling like stars, as they turned their sides 

 towards the sun. 



