THE GOSSAMER. 219 



have the body either of an uniform lively green, 

 yellow, or purple colour, or varied with handsome 

 markings ; whilst the Mygale, Lycosce, and Aranece, 

 which conceal themselves under stones and in obscure 

 situations, are of brown, black, or other obscure 

 colours, like the places where they reside. 



I must not leave this part of my subject without 

 referring to the silvery threads of gossamer, which 

 are so frequently seen extending from bush to bush, 

 from furrow to furrow, and glancing with iridescent 

 brightness in the morning sun. Their origin was 

 formerly unknowTi. Spencer speaks of them as 

 "scorched dew;" and Thomson mentions, in his 

 " Autumn," " the filmy threads of dew evaporate ;" 

 which no doubt refers to the same object. The 

 gossamer is now known to be the production of 

 a minute spider. It is twice mentioned by Shak- 

 speare ; but not in connexion with the httle being 

 from whom it originates, and with which he was most 

 probably unacquainted. One of the passages is 

 famihar to every one : — 



" A lover may bestride the g-ossamer, 

 That idles in the wanton summer air, 

 And yet not fall, so light is vanity." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act II. Sc. VI. 



and the other is put into the mouth of Edgar, when 



