130 FORMATION OF GOSSAMER. 



Thus, in the words of Paley, has " this little animal, with no 

 wings or muscles enabling it to dart, a path laid for it by its 

 Creator, in the atmosphere. Though the Spider itself be 

 heavier than air, the thread it spins is specifically lighter. 

 This is its balloon left to itself it would drop to the ground, 

 but being tied to the thread, it is supported."* All Spiders, 

 however different the form of their webs, are said to proceed 

 alike in shooting their lines ; but those who may desire to 

 watch the process above described, are recommended by Mr. 

 Rennie to select for their observation one or other of the fol- 

 lowing species, common in almost every field and garden. 

 The small Gossamer, known by its shining blackish-brown 

 body and reddish transparent legs, or the Long-bodied Spider, 

 which varies in colour from green to grey or brownish, but 

 has always a black line along the belly, with a silvery white 

 or yellowish one on each side. 



Having thus seen the way in which Spiders shoot their 

 lines, we come now to the examination of Gossamer, of which 

 these lines form the material. After having served, singly, 

 their fabricators' turn, either as bridges to cross the vacant 

 gulf, or as balloons to rise skywards, they are brought together 

 by the action of " gentle airs," gradually as'sume the shape of 

 fleecy flakes, composed of irregular silky masses, and then by 

 an ascending current of rarified air are borne hundreds of feet 

 into the atmosphere. On falling, when the upward current 

 ceases, it would appear by observation of the naturalist above 



* Natural Theology, p. 377. 



