234 LOCH CRERAN. 



that we were led by it about 50 yards to where it shone, 

 and then picked up what proved to be a piece of fir 

 bark, the inside lining of which displayed the phosphor- 

 escent gleam in question. It was damp, which may 

 have added to the brilliance of the effect ; but this is 

 only another example of what we observed previously in 

 the case of a fresh cut piece of fir wood. This time it 

 was the inner lining of the bark that shone as brilliantly 

 as a fresh herring, or even as a basket of herring. What 

 is the cause of this peculiar effect, which is by no means 

 evanescent, for we carried it some miles, showing 

 brilliantly like a small lantern all the way ? 



" Did you observe the gossamer threads the other 

 morning?" asks our artist friend, whose eye had caught 

 the beauty and delicacy of the myriad lines as they floated 

 in the morning air. We had not been so early afoot on 

 the moors, but in the forenoon we had found the un- 

 frequented paths crossed and intercrossed to an 

 exceptional extent with these airy creations, whose 

 whereabouts were only observable by the sunlight glanc- 

 ing from the fairy fabrics. There tenacity is most 

 remarkable, and as the wind puffs them with a graceful 

 curve from the heath to the bramble, or from the grass 

 stem to the bog myrtle, the little spinner hangs on to the 

 end and is borne along by the breeze. Here is one 

 hanging from the roof of a shed to the end of a very 

 delicate line, with no perceptible line beneath it. We 

 breathe heavily upon it from a little distance, and the 

 creature instantaneously drops to the ground. Our first 

 conclusion is that the spider loosened its hold and 

 dropped clean away ; but very soon it reappears, coming 

 up the thread " hand over hand." Just where it loosened 

 its hold a white little puff is observable on the line, and 



