142 CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 



was done about 5 P.M., the wind N.W. Soon after, a calm 

 succeeded. Derham remarks that most tempests from the W. 

 vere a little at last to the N.W., and then the ravage and 

 damage take place. 



Pray write, and on larger paper. 



LETTER XXXIII. 



TO SAMUEL BARKER. 

 (From Mr. Field's copy.) 



Selborne, Jan. 5, 1782. 

 DEAR SAM, 



GOSSAMER has from old times attracted the attention of the 

 curious. Chaucer mentions it amongst phenomena of nature 

 not well understood or accounted for, such as thunder &c. 

 The Tabanus bomnus, I verily think, has no sting in its tail 

 or blood-sucking rostrum, but a Musca-like proboscis. I have 

 seen it suck the galled parts of Sir Simeon Stuart's working 

 horses without giving them any pain. It abounds most in 

 moist places and sultry weather. The CEstrus curvicauda 

 never lays its nits but in the warmer hours of the day; for my 

 horses which are in sfcable all day and out all night are never 

 covered with their eggs at home. Pray examine the little 

 dancing Diptera (Tipulce I suppose they are) that sport the 

 winter through in fog, gentle rain, and even frost and snow, 

 when the sun shines. Every sunny day insects abound, and 

 in warm sunny lanes and under hedges the air swarms with 

 them ; within doors wood-lice, spiders, and Lepismce are in 

 motion, and many MIISCCB in the stable; and earth-worms come 

 forth every mild evening ; so that in mild weather insects are 

 not so much laid up as is imagined. Some Phalcence also fly 

 all the winter. 



Y r affect. 



GIL. WHITE. 



